SAR efforts widen for Bali Strait ship victims

Banyuwangi (ANTARA) - The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team has expanded the search for dozens of victims from the sinking of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ship in the Bali Strait on Friday.

The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, which was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles, sank on the Ketapang Port (Banyuwangi)-Gilimanuk Port (Bali) route on Wednesday, July 2, at around 11:35 p.m. local time.

Deputy for Search and Rescue Operations, Basarnas Readiness, First Admiral Ribut Eko Suyanto stated in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Friday that on the second day following the Tunu Ship's sinking, the joint SAR team continued searching for victims by maximizing the use of main SAR operation tools.

"SAR operations are being conducted simultaneously by sea, air, and land to ensure an effective search and rescue," he told reporters at Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi.

Suyanto explained that the joint SAR team also conducted nighttime operations using the State Ship (KN) Permadi, the State Ship Arjuna, and several other SAR vessels.

"At night, the joint SAR team also conducted a search using the KN SAR Permadi and KN SAR Arjuna and several other SAR ships that are more maneuverable, so as not to disrupt the Ketapang-Gilimanuk crossing route," he revealed.

The deputy highlighted that, so far, 35 victims of the sea accident in the Bali Strait have been found: 29 survivors and six fatalities.

On Thursday night (July 3), some 29 survivors were reunited with their families. Of these, 21 were handed over at Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi, while the remaining eight were handed over at Gilimanuk Port in Bali. Additionally, the bodies of the six deceased were also returned to their families.