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Rescue team ceases search for victims of boat accident in Batam
The Riau Islands-chapter National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) stopped on Wednesday the search operation of six missing boating accident victims in Tanjung Bemban waters, around 700 meters off Nongsa beach, Batam.
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Search operation: Batam Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers unload a search and rescue boat to locate victims of a boat accident in Nongsa waters, Batam, Riau Islands, on Nov. 2. (JP/Fadli)
R
iau Islands division of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) ended on Wednesday its search operations for the remaining six victims of a boating accident in waters 700 meters off Nongsa Beach, Tanjung Bemban, Batam. They were part of 101 passengers, including three crew members on board a boat that capsized on Nov. 2.
Abdul Hamid, the Riau Islands Basarnas head, said rescuers had found no more survivors in the last seven days since the boat, carrying undocumented Indonesian migrant workers, sank off Nongsa. “Today’s the last day of our search operation, where it seems unlikely no new victims will be found. Based on our evaluation, search operations have been conducted within a far-enough radius from the accident site,” Hamid told The Jakarta Post, Tuesday.
On Tuesday, he said, 19 large and small vessels were dispatched for a search operation within a radius of 2,000 meters from the coastline. “After the search operation period ends, Basarnas vessels will still stay on guard in areas around the incident’s location,” said Hamid.
As of Wednesday, 54 people were confirmed dead with 41 survivors, while six others remain missing. Most of the passengers were from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) with the rest from other parts of the country.
Authorities reported the 10-by-3-meter boat as a vessel unsuitable to carrying passengers as it did not fulfill sea transportation safety standards. Departing from Selingi, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, early Wednesday, the vessel was on its way to Batam when it encountered large waves in Nongsa waters. (ebf)
