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Bodies of 10 residents swept away by Memberamo river found
Personnel of the Jayapura Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) have discovered the bodies of 10 of the 13 residents reported missing after a river boat accident in Batani district, Pegunungan Bintang regency, Papua, last Frida
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Poor transportation: This picture shows the only long boat local residents of Batani district, Pegunungan Bintang regency, Papua, relied on to travel along Memberamo river. Carrying 28 passengers, the longboat sunk on July 21. Ten people have been confirmed deceased while three others remain missing. (Courtesy of Batani district head Anike Alwolka/File)
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ersonnel of the Jayapura Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) have discovered the bodies of 10 of the 13 residents reported missing after a river boat accident in Batani district, Pegunungan Bintang regency, Papua, last Friday.
The bodies of the deceased victims were found floating in two separate locations in Muara Nawa and Batani district.
In their operation, the SAR Jayapura team, which comprised 15 people, together with local residents and Pegunungan Bintang Police personnel, erected two search and rescue posts in Muara Nawa and Batani district.
Two victims were discovered in Muara Nawa at 5:40 p.m. local time on Monday while the eight others were found in Muara Nawa and Batani district on Tuesday.
“Of the 10 victims of the longboat accident in Batani district, eight were adults while the remaining two were children. Three people remain missing,” SAR Jayapura head Melkianus Kutta said.
“The search and rescue operation is still underway. We are searching for them along the river from the accident site to Batani and Muara Nawa. Many people say victims of boat accidents on Memberamo river are often been swept away to Muara Nawa,” said Melkianus.
The accident occurred while the longboat was traveling on Memberamo river with 28 passengers on board, last Friday. Fifteen people survived the incident.
Batani district head Anike Alwolka hoped the government would provide Batani residents and people in nearby villages with better transportation, such as speed boats or Johnson boats, to support their activities. (afr/ebf)
