Third body from KM Nurul Salsa remains unidentified

The joint Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team has not yet been able to identify the third body from the KM Nurul Salsa, which was found by the joint SAR team and taken to the Medical and Health Division (Biddokkes) of the South Sulawesi Regional Police in Makassar on Friday. Head of Biddokkes for the South Sulawesi Police, Senior Commissioner Muhammad Haris, stated the body could not be identified because it had decomposed. “The identification of the victim is still like previous cases, it has not been identified,” Haris said. He explained the DVI team is continuing identification efforts through fingerprint examination, dental data, and matching with antemortem data provided by the victims’ families. “If the fingerprints are still intact, the process can be faster. Likewise, if dental data and other medical characteristics are available,” he said. Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations for the South Sulawesi Police, Senior Commissioner Didik Supranoto, said the third victim was found in the Mattalang area and is currently undergoing the identification process. He mentioned that of the 17 victims previously reported missing, three have been found, while 14 others are still being searched for. Didik said investigators are also continuing to probe the alleged negligence that caused the KM Nurul Salsa to sink in the waters west of Polasi Island, Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday (15/7). “The number of witnesses examined has increased from 23 to 25 people. The handling status is still in the investigation process,” he said. According to Didik, investigators are still looking into alleged criminal violations, including suspected negligence resulting in death and alleged forgery of the passenger manifest document. He revealed the manifest recorded 46 passengers, whereas the investigation results showed the number of people on board reached 76. Of that total, 58 people survived, four people died, and 14 people are still declared missing. Didik added that investigators have not made any arrests because the legal process is ongoing. The two additional witnesses examined are surviving passengers. The joint SAR operation to search for the 14 victims still missing is scheduled to end on the 10th day, in accordance with the search operation period provisions, which is seven days extended by three days.