SAR Operation for Sunken KM Nurul Salsa in Selayar Waters Officially Closed
The search operation for 14 victims of KM Nurul Salsa, which sank in the waters of the Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, has been officially closed after running for 10 days.
“We have officially closed the SAR operation after entering its tenth day, because the entire search area has been swept optimally in accordance with the operational plan and there are no longer any indications of the victims’ whereabouts,” said Andi Sultan, Head of the Operations and Alert Section at the Makassar Basarnas Office, on Friday (24/7).
The decision to end the operation was taken based on a joint evaluation by the Combined SAR Team, the local government and representatives of the victims’ families during a briefing at the joint SAR post.
“This decision is the result of a mutual agreement between the combined SAR team, the local government and representatives of the victims’ families,” he said.
Andi Sultan explained that on the tenth day of the operation, the combined SAR team divided the search into two Search and Rescue Units (SRU). SRU 1, using the KN SAR Kamajaya together with a RIB, swept the area west of the Sabalana Islands and the uninhabited islands in line with the search map.
“Meanwhile, SRU 2, consisting of a Sabalana Village Government vessel and a fishing boat, swept the area east of the Sabalana Islands,” he said.
According to Andi Sultan, based on validation jointly conducted with the local government, the police and the Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP), the number of persons on board (POB) KM Nurul Salsa was set at 76.
“Of that number, 58 people were found alive, 4 were found dead, and 14 remain listed as missing,” he said.
Although the SAR operation has been officially closed, Andi Sultan said Basarnas remains open to coordination should new information emerge in the future regarding the whereabouts of victims still unaccounted for.
“Should there be any information or findings related to the victims in the future, Basarnas is ready to follow up in accordance with applicable procedures,” he said.
With the closure of the SAR operation, all personnel involved have been returned to their respective units to remain on standby for other potential emergency situations.