ULOG: 19 "The SAR team is still looking for 20 Passenger Motorboats of Fungka Permata Cought Fire and Sank down"

Img source : abovewhispers.com

The SAR team is still searching for 20 passengers of KM Fungka Permata V, which burned and sank in the waters of Banggai Laut, Central Sulawesi, Friday (9/14) evening. Meanwhile, 126 other passengers were found safe and 10 people were killed.

As reported by reporters, wooden boats sailing from Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi, with the final destination of Taliabo, North Maluku, are estimated to carry 150 passengers, including crew members. The search for the remaining victims is still ongoing and this morning the SAR Team will be assisted by Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

According to information from ABK survivors, Aksar said, the wooden ship accident occurred on Friday (9/14) at around 12:00 a.m., when the engine suddenly became hot because the cooling water did not run and eventually caught fire. The ship finally sank around Tagong Sagu Island, Bangkurung District, Banggai Laut District.

The report on this disaster was later received at Banggai at around 4:00 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m. new resident SAR team and officers from the Indonesian National Police, BPBD, and other related elements came down to the location to provide assistance.

Said Banggai Police Chief AKBP Islands Idham Mahdi, the trip from Banggai to the scene took four hours and the wave conditions were quite high. In Loaksi there is also no access to telephone communication, only relying on ship radio.

For the identity of survivors, officers were still being recorded. However, the death toll consisted of seven women, one male and two toddlers.

"We estimate that no Banggai Laut residents will be victims because none of the passengers departing from Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi will go down in Banggai. The ship will only transit in Banggai for logistical purposes and then continue shipping to Taliabu, North Maluku," he said.