Search suspended after one week

Search suspended after one week

AMBON: After a week-long search for passengers of KM Mulya
Star, which sank in the Teluk Manipa waters in Central Maluku
regency on Saturday last week, the search and rescue team decided
on Thursday to halt operations.

"The SAR (Search and Rescue) team decided to halt operations
on Thursday after a week of searching," Capt. Denih of the Ambon
Sea Security Task Force said on Friday, advising that the search
operations were conducted with the help of two Navy warships.

Efforts by the team and local residents were responsible for
rescuing 25 passengers and crew and the recovery of three bodies.

"We do not have a complete list of the names of the dead, the
survivors or the 15 people who have been declared missing," said
Denih as quoted by Antara.

The ship's owner, 60-year-old Aziju, is among the missing.

KM Mulya Star set sail at 3:15 p.m. on Sept. 1 from Pelita
Jaya port in Piru, West Seram destined for Probolinggo, East
Java, carrying 30 passengers, 13 crew and a cargo of 100 tons of
palm oil and 20 tons of cloves. (lup)