Timika SAR: 8 Survivors Found After LCT Ship Sinks in Puriri

The Timika Search and Rescue (SAR) Office has successfully located and evacuated eight survivors of the LCT Cahaya Permata Hati shipwreck in the Puriri waters, Mimika Regency, Central Papua.

The Head of the Timika SAR Office, I Wayan Suyaterek, stated on Tuesday that the eight victims were safely evacuated by the Joint SAR Team using the LCT Tri Anugerah Maritim 605 to the Pomako People’s Port in Timika during the early hours of Tuesday (29/9).

“The eight victims were found on Monday (28/9) night at approximately 11:00 PM WIT on board the LCT Cahaya Permata Hati, which had sunk 80 per cent in the Puriri waters. The victims were found on the bridge wearing life jackets,” he said.

The eight survivors were immediately evacuated onto the LCT Tri Anugerah Maritim 605 and transported to Pomako People’s Port, where they were subsequently handed over to their families.

With the discovery and completion of the evacuation process, it is proposed that the SAR operation be officially closed.

The LCT Cahaya Permata Hati, carrying eight passengers, was reported to have suffered a leak and subsequently sank in the Puriri waters, Mimika Regency.

The sand-carrying vessel had departed from Pomako People’s Port on Monday (28/9) morning, bound for Asmat Port, South Papua. However, during the journey, specifically near the Puriri waters in Mimika Regency, the vessel experienced a leak and sank.

Upon receiving the report, the Head of the Timika Search and Rescue Office, through the Head of the SAR Operations and Readiness Sub-section, Charles Y Batlajery, immediately dispatched a joint SAR team using the LCT Tri Anugerah Maritim 605 and a Basarnas Rapid Rescue Boat (RBB) to the scene to conduct rescue efforts.