Banyuwangi (ANTARA) - The joint SAR team recovered one deceased passenger from the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya in the southern Bali Strait, on Sunday.
The discovery of one fatality on the fourth day of the search brings the confirmed death toll to seven. Concurrently, 30 individuals have been rescued, and search operations are ongoing for 28 others.
Commander of the Koarmada II Surabaya Naval Combat Group, First Admiral TNI Endra Hartono, said the male victim was found at around 10:41 a.m. local time, about 6 miles from the location where the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank on Wednesday, July 2.
"The victim's body was first found by KRI Pulau Fanildo when carrying out an underwater survey and a body was detected, then we sent KRI Tongkol for evacuation," Endra Hartono told reporters in Banyuwangi, on Sunday.
The victim, whose identity remains unknown, was found by the SAR team face down, clad in a navy blue shirt and shorts, he continued.
The KRI Tongkol, carrying one deceased victim, arrived at Pusri Pier, Ketapang, Banyuwangi District, around 1:30 p.m. local time. The body was then immediately transported by ambulance to Blambangan Regional Hospital for identification.
"Before its handover to the family, the body underwent further identification," he said.
On Saturday, July 5, a joint SAR team from the Navigation Service of the Ministry of Transportation found an object on the seabed at a depth of 40-60 meters suspected to be the wreck of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya.
The location where the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank has now shifted around 800 meters from the original location of the ferry that sank on Wednesday, July 2. The ship was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members, and 22 vehicles.
