Ship Runs Aground in Pangkalbalam Channel, 253 Passengers of KM Sewindu Evacuated

A ship has reportedly run aground near the entrance channel to Pangkalbalam Port in Pangkalpinang. The incident prevented the KM Sewindu, which had sailed from Tanjung Priok Port carrying 253 passengers, from berthing at its intended dock. As food supplies on board had run out, the ship’s captain was forced to request assistance from the Search and Rescue (SAR) team at 12.05 p.m. Western Indonesian Time to evacuate all passengers. A joint SAR team immediately deployed by boat to the scene. The evacuation process was quite difficult and required great caution, given that some passengers were unwell and children were among those on board. After a three-hour effort, all 253 passengers were successfully transferred from the KM Sewindu to the SAR vessel and then taken to the Pangkalbalam Port dock. One passenger who was ill was rushed to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. The head of the Pangkalpinang SAR Office, Mikel Racham Junika, explained that the disruption to the shipping channel caused by the grounded vessel was the main reason for the obstruction of the KM Sewindu’s journey. ‘The shipping channel to Pangkalbalam was disrupted because of a grounded ship. That is why the KM Sewindu could not dock, so we evacuated all the passengers,’ said Mikel. Authorities are currently monitoring the condition of the grounded vessel and working to restore normal traffic flow in the area.