SAR Team Searches for Passenger Who Fell from KMP Batumandi in South Lampung

A joint SAR team is conducting a search for a passenger suspected of falling from the KMP Batumandi in the waters of the Sunda Strait, South Lampung Regency. The Head of the Bakauheni SAR Post, Rezie Kuswara, stated on Thursday that his office received a report regarding a passenger who allegedly fell overboard during the voyage. Upon receiving the report, a team was immediately dispatched to the scene to carry out a search and rescue operation. The search effort involves personnel from Basarnas, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian National Police, ASDP, the ship’s crew, and other joint SAR elements. The team is sweeping the waters using rescue boats and monitoring the area around the incident location. In addition to the sea search, officials are gathering statements from the captain, crew members, and several witnesses to ascertain the chronology of the event and estimate the victim’s last known position. He explained that the incident began at 01:42 WIB when the ship was about to dock at Bakauheni Port. A stewardess received a report from a mother who had lost her child. After five announcements were made over the loudspeaker with no response, a search was conducted throughout the vessel. A pair of shoes and a jacket were found on the right stairway leading to vehicle deck 1. Following this discovery, the stewardess and security reported to the duty officer that a passenger was suspected of having fallen into the sea. In light of the incident, the SAR team is urging the public and ferry passengers who may have information regarding the victim’s whereabouts to report it to the authorities immediately to aid the search process.