SAR Operation for KMP Mutiara Sentosa Tragedy Closed, 238 Victims Evacuated

The search and rescue operation for victims of the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II fire in the northern waters of Sumenep Regency, Madura Island, East Java, has been officially closed. Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii, announced the closure after the final group of 62 evacuees arrived at the integrated post at the Gapura Surya Nusantara Terminal, Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, at approximately 2:10 p.m. WIB on Tuesday (4/8).

Syafii stated that the total number of people evacuated from the KMP Mutiara Sentosa II was 238, including five fatalities. This figure encompasses passengers, crew members, and operational support personnel on board. He confirmed that the number of victims and the confirmed passenger manifest are currently synchronised.

The specific SAR operation has been officially transitioned to a routine standby operation controlled by the Head of the Surabaya SAR Office. Syafii noted that this routine operation would remain focused on the waters where the incident occurred. He emphasised that a full-scale search operation would be reinitiated if there are any reports from the public regarding missing family members, with the response tailored to the prevailing situation and conditions.