SAR team to deploy larger vessels in Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry search

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) unveiled a plan to deploy bigger vessels in its search for 30 people still missing after the Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry sank.

The agency's plan to deploy the bigger ships was announced by Basarnas Chief Mohammad Syafii on Thursday evening by taking into account high waves that might occur in the southern part of Bali Strait on Friday.

As a precautionary measure against high waves forecast by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), small vessels, previously dispatched, would temporarily be withdrawn from the search mission.

Rescuers made their utmost efforts to locate the missing passengers and crew members by considering the current and weather conditions, he remarked, adding that the ferry might have sunk at a depth of 50-55 meters.

Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, the Indonesian government formally handed over the bodies of six victims from the Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry to the mourning families at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, East Java.

The deceased, identified as Eko Sastriyo, Elok Rumantini, Cahyani, Fitri April Lestari, Afnan A. Mustafa, and Anang Suryono, hail from Banyuwangi District, East Java.

As of Thursday evening, the search and rescue command post of Ketapang Port reported that 29 people on board the ferry, which capsized in rough waters off Bali Island on Wednesday evening, had been found alive.

Wahyu Setia Budi, coordinator of the Banyuwangi SAR agency, earlier reported that the Tunu Pratama Jaya roll-on/roll-off vessel was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 cars.

The vessel departed Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi District, East Java, for Bali's Gilimanuk Port on Wednesday at 10:56 p.m. local time and reportedly sank at 11:35 p.m. local time, he added.

In response to this tragedy, President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all related government agencies to make utmost efforts to rescue all passengers and crew members of the ill-fated vessel.

The head of state's instruction was relayed by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya in a press statement issued in the holy city of Mecca on the sidelines of President Prabowo's visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

"Mr. President has been informed about the sea accident, which was caused by bad weather, and has instructed the Basarnas and all related government agencies to save those on board," he emphasized.