B

ad weather in the Sunda Strait over the past several days has been blamed for the sinking of KM Putri Krakatau over the weekend while the fate of two passengers remains unclear.

The joint search and rescue team comprising personnel from the Banten and Lampung Police, the Navy and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), will continue its efforts for the next several days.

The boat, owned by PT Planet Diving, sank after it got caught in a storm during a trip from Marina Beach in North Jakarta to Mount Anak Krakatau in South Lampung, Lampung.

The tourist boat sank around Sangiang Island in Serang, Banten. The vessel is believed to have sunk early on Sunday at 12:15 a.m. local time.

Rescue workers have saved 21 out of the 23 passengers on the vessel while two remain missing as of Tuesday.

Lampung Police chief spokeswoman Sr. Comr. Sulistyaningsih said the two missing passengers were diving coordinator Darwis, 30, and diving participant Steven, 31.

There were five Japanese and six local tourists as well as 12 crew members on board.

The rescued Japanese were Hiroshi Takashima, 51; Daijiro Sugihara, 53; Shigenobu Yamada, 33; and Okizono Kuota, Kimura Minoru and Yabe Yu, all 45 years old.

Surviving local divers have been identified as Ngesti, 30; Ian, 40; Kelvin, 21; and Tio, 17; and diving instructors Ronni, 28; and Nurman, 35.

The crew members were Yadi, 41, Leman, 23, Salim Septianto, 37, Agus, 32, Nurokim, 43, Warsono, 58, Buang, 40, Setia Kurniadi, 19; and boat captain Tatang, 43.

Victims of the ill-fated boat were plucked by fishermen on board a passing KM Mekar Sari fishing boat. The joint SAR team evacuated victims from the KM Mekar Sari in waters off the Suralaya steam-power plant at 6:20 a.m.

Later at 7:20 a.m, the Tirtayasa tugboat, which was also carrying victims, docked at the Indah Kiat Harbor. The survivors were then brought to Krakatau Medika Hospital in Cilegon city for medical treatment.

The Bakauheni Port Authority has warned all skippers of ferries serving the Bakauheni-Merak route to stay alert and be aware of the bad weather in the Sunda Strait.

 '€œWe have also advised them to share information on weather conditions as soon as possible, especially if there are extreme changes. Ahead of this year'€™s Idul Fitri exodus, passengers must be provided with comfort,'€ said Bakauheni Ferry Crossing Authority head Rahman on Monday.

Rahman added that his office always coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) to provide accurate information to boat captains on weather conditions in the Sunda Strait.