Search efforts to locate 'Cahaya Bahari' intensify

Search efforts to locate 'Cahaya Bahari' intensify

JAKARTA (JP): Efforts to locate the ferry which vanished in
stormy waters off North Sulawesi intensified on Friday as fears
grew that the death toll could reach nearly 500.

"On Friday noon Nomad military helicopters combed the waters
for three hours in a 40-mile radius from where the Cahaya Bahari
gave its last SOS signal, but nothing came up," Udianto, the
administrative chief of the North Sulawesi Ministry of
Communications office, said.

Radio contact with the wooden-hulled vessel was lost after its
captain, M.M. Paparaga, radioed an "SOS" advising that the ship
was taking water in fast during a violent storm at about 10:45
a.m. on Thursday.

The ship was believed to be about 42 miles east of Siau island
in the Sangihe and Talaud islands regency when it lost radio
contact.

Four naval ships, including the KRI Multatuli, KRI Lambung
Mangkurat, KRI Singa, along with dozens of civilian ships, such
as the KM Nusa Utara, KM Oceania II and Oceania III, and fishing
boats have been deployed in the search mission.

"We are trying our best to locate the ship. The search will
continue as it is still unclear whether the ship has completely
sunk," Udianto said.

Rescuers returning from search operations have reported no
trace of the ship or any other scattered items, such as baggage
or wreckage.

Heavy seas, low cloud cover and strong tidal waves which were
reaching three meters high were also hampering the search.

Ferries of this kind rarely come equipped with adequate life
jackets or lifeboats.

There is conflicting data about the total passengers on board
as the Cahaya Bahari was licensed to carry only 270 people
according to chief of Maluku's communications office Bob Halattu.

The National Search and Rescue Agency claimed that at least
492 passengers and crew may have been aboard.

The ship, bound for Manado, North Sulawesi, is believed to
have been packed with people fleeing communal conflicts in Tobelo
on Halmahera island in North Maluku.

In Manado Port, hundreds of anxious relatives sat waiting for
news of their loved ones. They swarmed the port soon after news
broke that the ship had gone missing on Thursday.

"We are asking for their patience as the status of the ship is
still unknown," Udianto said.

Fears were compounded further as it is said that the waters in
that area are infested with sharks.

But the head of the rescue team, Soleman, was quoted by Antara
on Friday as saying that there is a possibility they may have
headed back to its port of origin in Tobelo, North Maluku, and
have not been able to contact port officials as the area was
deserted due to the latest riot on June 19.(48/edt)