Rescuers intensify search for 'Arta Rimba' victims

Rescuers intensify search for 'Arta Rimba' victims

JAKARTA (JP): Rescue workers have intensified the search for
the hundreds of people aboard the KLM Arta Rimba, which sank in
West Kalimantan waters last week, with the deployment of three
more Navy ships and one other boat, KM Clurit from Jakarta, an
official said Monday.

According to Capt. Zainuddin, the section chief in charge
of sea traffic and transport at the port office in Pontianak,
West Kalimantan, five bodies were taken to the Dr. Sudarso
hospital late Sunday night. A total of eight bodies were found on
Sunday, he said.

"Three were brought by the KRI Rencong while the other five
bodies were transported around midnight by KRI Sigaluh and KRI
Siliman," Zainuddin told The Jakarta Post by phone.

The rescuers failed to identify the bodies as they were
already decomposed, he added.

"We haven't found any other bodies on Monday ... mainly due to
strong winds and high tides," he said.

He said the weather conditions made recovery efforts difficult
as the bodies did not stay in the positions reported by search
planes. "The remains of the victims are also eaten by fish," he
said.

Sunday's discovery brought the total number of bodies
recovered from the accident to 18. The Navy now has eight ships
involved in the operation.

So far only 20 survivors have been rescued after the Arta
Rimba sank in rough weather with 325 people on board on Saturday
Feb. 6.

Survivors said the boat sank because of water pump failure and
a leak in the hull.

"We will continue the search as there was no official order to
stop the evacuation," Zainuddin said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the House of Representatives
Commission IV, Burhanuddin Napitupulu, called on Minister of
Communications Giri Suseno to take responsibility for the
tragedy.

"As a technical minister he cannot just sit back and wait for
reports from behind the desk. He has to check why a cargo ship
could be overloaded (with people) like that," Burhanuddin was
quoted by Antara as saying.

Separately, Director General of Sea Transportation Agus
Rudiyanto stated Monday that he would revoke the license of KLM
Arta Rimba's operators.

"We can revoke the license of the captain permanently and
forbid the responsible parties from working in the field ever
again," Agus said. (edt)