Rescue Workers Continue Search for Missing Fisherman

Lumajang, E Java - Rescue workers on Thursday continued their search for a fisherman who went missing after waves hit his motorboat off Watu Pecak coast in Lumajang district, East Java, the day before. "A number of rescue workers, with the help of police personnel are continuing their search for the body of the fisherman believed to have gone missing in the area where the motorboat was overturned by high waves," chief of the Lumajang Search and Rescue Team Nugroho Dwi Atmoko said. The motorboat carrying a total of 15 people overturned off the coast after being hit by waves. Three fishermen were killed in the mishap. Two bodies, identified as Kasan (30) and Slamet (30), have already been found while the body of the other fisherman, identified as Gito (35), is still missing. Nugroho said the rescue workers continued to do their best to find the body of the 35-year-old man in the waters off the coast. Chief of the Lumajang police resort, Adj. Snr. Comr. Tedjo Wijanarko said one of the 12 survivors, identified as Fadeli, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Pasirian public health service post for bone fracture. "The accident occurred after part of fishing net was stuck on the motorboat's propeller, thereby causing its engine to stop. When the engine stopped waves hit the motorboat which later overturned and killed three fishermen," he said. All the fishermen hailed from neighboring Jember district.