Three Days of Search: Four Fishermen Missing in Indramayu Still Not Found
A combined search and rescue (SAR) team continues operations to locate four fishermen and crew members who went missing after their vessel was struck by a barge in Indramayu waters.
“Basarnas, through Cirebon SAR Post together with the Combined SAR team, is continuing the search for four crew members of the fishing vessel KM Almujib GT 6,” said Ade Dian Permana, Head of Bandung SAR Office, on Monday, 2 March. The search operation deployed the SAR ship KN Setyaki 202, which departed from Cirebon Port Dock. The operation was further supported by the police patrol vessel VIII 2472 from Indramayu Police Marine Unit, which operated from Karangsong Port, and the water police rescue boat (RBB KPLP) Indramayu.
“The search process involves combing areas around the incident location in accordance with SAR Map predictions and victim dispersal projections,” Permana explained.
The incident occurred when KM Almujib departed Karangsong Port en route to waters near Rakit and Biawak islands on Saturday, 28 February around 13:00 WIB. The vessel carried eight crew members, including captain Jupri Priyanto. Upon arriving at the Rakit island archipelago waters, the crew cast their nets. After completing the fishing operation and cleaning the vessel until 19:00 WIB, they rested.
Around 22:00 WIB, one crew member, Avin, awoke and saw a barge numbered 3009 approaching before it struck the fishing vessel’s left hull. The impact caused KM Almujib to be dragged for ten minutes before water entered the vessel. The crew members attempted to save themselves by holding onto jerrycans and cork.
Two crew members, Carudin (48) and Alfianto (20), managed to survive. They were located and evacuated by the merchant vessel KM Cahaya Langgeng and brought to Karangsong on Sunday, 1 March, where they were handed over to victims’ families. Two other crew members were reported dead: Jupri (35) and Wandi (39).
Four crew members remain missing and are being actively searched for by the combined SAR team: Ari Wibowo (23), Asep Agustina (24), Masud (38), and Ono (50). They are believed to have been swept by currents towards deeper waters.