SAR team halts search for Belaza crew

SIKKA, East Nusa Tenggara: A Search and Rescue (SAR) team and water police in Sikka regency have decided to halt search operations after one week for seven ship crew members still missing in waters off the coast of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province.

Sikka Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. F.X. Bagus Wahyono, said on Friday that the SAR operation first began on Saturday last week, when the captain of the ship, Kristianus Lela Sura, reported to police the capsizing of the ship that happened four days earlier. Sura is the only survivor.

But, police had to halt the SAR operation three days later or on Tuesday, due to bad weather. The operations were completely stopped on Friday.

The Belaza Timor cargo ship sank on Tuesday last week after it was caught in a huge storm. Four people were found dead and seven others are missing and presumed dead. -- JP