Pangkep, South Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is considering weather modification operations to assist in the search for victims of the Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) ATR 42-500 plane crash on Mount Bulusaraung, Pangkajene Islands District (Pangkep), South Sulawesi.
"The weather conditions are extreme. Hopefully, we can carry out weather modification operations to help expedite the search and rescue (SAR) operation," the head of Basarnas, Mohammad Syafii, said on Monday (January 19).
On the third day of the SAR operation, Syafii said the team still encountered obstacles, including extreme weather and difficult terrain. The operation, which involved more than 1,200 personnel, focused on searching, locating, and evacuating victims.
"Our priority is airborne SAR, as the distance from the location to the airport is very short. However, due to the weather, aircraft are not operating optimally," he continued.
He added that he had increased the air force operating since morning, including utilizing an Indonesian Air Force Boeing 737 to conduct air surveillance.
Helicopters were then deployed to send a specially equipped rescue team, and helicopter assistance from the South Sulawesi Regional Police and Basarnas was brought in from Surabaya to speed up the search. However, extreme weather conditions hampered the operation.
He stated that during this golden hour, he hoped for a miracle and that the joint SAR team working on the ground would be able to find all the victims.
Meanwhile, the recovered aircraft parts will be handed over to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
"Our focus is on the search for victims. The team on the ground has indeed found victims. However, due to weather and terrain conditions, the evacuation has not been able to reach the hospital designated by the National Police as the DVI team," Syafii informed.
On the third day of the SAR operation, the joint SAR team found another female victim in a ravine on Mount Bulusaraung, 50 meters below the summit. The day before, the team found the body of a male victim on the slope of the ravine. A total of 10 victims were recorded on the plane.
