SAR STILL SEARCHING FOR NAVAL BOAT WRECK

Tanjungpinang, May 24 (ANTARA) - The search and rescue (SAR) team of Tanjungpinang, Riau islands province, has not yet found the wreck of the naval patrol boat which caught fire and sank in Lingai waters, Anambas islands, on Thursday (May 20).

"Up to fifth day our search still has not found the wreck of the naval patrol boat and the three people on the boat were still gone missing," Tanjungpinang SAR chief Bambang Subagyo said in Tanjungpinang Monday night.

Bambang said the search is also carried out by divers and with the assistance of warship KRI Patimura using sonar to detect objects like steel.

"KRI Patimura had already combed areas starting from the location where the boat went down as far as three miles, but still found no sign of the wreck," he said.

The South China Sea in the Longai waters which is up to 62 meters deep is a serious obstacle to the search, in addition to the strong undersea currents.

"It was thought that the strong undersea currents had moved the wreck," he said.

Under the SAR operational standards, a search for a sunken ship and missing people would be conducted up to seven days.

"Thus according to the standards, the last day of our search will be Wednesday (May 26), but any signs of the wreck will continue the search for another seven days," he said.

Besides the SAR team and naval forces conducting the search, he said the operation is also assisted by local fishermen and offshore oil companies in Anambas islands.

The naval patrol boat went down in Lingai waters on Thursday (May 20), when carrying a group of family welfare (PKK) women of Anambas islands regency were making a working visit.

Nineteen of them survived with many sustaining serious burns and broken bones. The three who had gone missing were Mauli Yulianty (wife of Yusrizal, Regent of Anambas Islands), Naval Chief Sergeant Hartono, and Dodi Harayudha (public relations staff of Anambas Islands regency administration).