SAR Team Searches for Two Victims of Sunken Vessel in Makassar Strait

Palu (ANTARA) - A joint search and rescue (SAR) team is continuing its search for two victims of the sunken vessel KLM Nur Ainun Balqis in the waters of the Makassar Strait within the Donggala Regency area of Central Sulawesi.

“The two passengers who are also victims of the sunken vessel are identified as Gus Wan (47) and Adam (20),” said Rusmadi, Head of the Operations and Standby Sub-Section at the Palu Search and Rescue Office (Kansar), in Palu on Tuesday.

He explained that on the second day of the SAR operation, the rescue team conducted a search within a radius of 309 nautical miles to the north of the KN SAR Baladewa jetty in Palu City, involving a number of units.

The joint team comprises personnel from the Palu SAR Office, crew of the KN SAR Baladewa, the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), the Water Police (Polirud) and other SAR resources. The operation commenced at 07:00 Central Indonesian Time (WITA), and as of Tuesday afternoon (17 February) the victims had not yet been found.

“We will continue the operation on the third day, Wednesday (18 February),” he said.

It was reported that the KLM Nur Ainun Balqis departed from Nunukan Port in North Kalimantan bound for Orange Port in Barru Regency, South Sulawesi, on Thursday (12 February) at approximately 02:00 WITA.

Mid-voyage whilst in the Makassar Strait, the vessel was struck by waves and began listing before sinking. All passengers and crew jumped into the sea to save themselves.

“In the incident, three survivors were identified as Saharudin (47), Muh Alwi (32) and Mukain (47). They were found by Donggala fishermen drifting at sea, whilst two others remain the subject of the search,” Rusmadi said.

He added that on the third day of operations, his team would optimise the search using the KN SAR Baladewa, and the search radius would likely be expanded further.