The Jakarta Post, July 20, 2007
Search ends for passengers still missing in Maluku seas
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
The search for missing passengers from the sinking KM Wahai Star ship has officially
been called off, leaving at least 36 people still unaccounted for Thursday.
The ill-fated ship sank in Manipa waters, Maluku province, on its way to Yos Sudarso
port in the provincial capital city of Ambon, from Leksula port in Buru regency on July
10. At least 36 people, including seven crew members, are still missing. But the
number of missing passengers is predicted to be higher than officially listed. So far,
only 42 survivors have been rescued and 14 bodies recovered. Coordinator of the
search and rescue operation, Lt. Col. Effendy Bungkang, said the operation was
called off seven days after the boat reportedly went down in rough waters.
"The search and rescue team's findings have been reported to Maluku Governor Karel
Albert Ralahalu," Effendy said in Ambon on Thursday. He said the governor instructed
the search to continue, but under the provincial administration's coordination. "The
command to find the missing passengers is now under the provincial administration,"
Effendy said. "So information about the victims will be provided through the
administration." Head of Maluku Transportation Office, Benny Gaspersz, confirmed
the search and rescue team had ended their search but the administration would take
over the job.
He also said the provincial administration and the ship's owner would pay insurance to
the victims, after state insurance company PT Jasa Raharja declined to pay, saying
the ship's owner had not paid the premium. Head of Jasa Raharja in Ambon, M.
Anhari, said the company had reminded the ship's owner to pay the premium but did
not get any response. "The Maluku provincial administration will coordinate with the
ship's owner to handle the victims' insurance claims ...," Benny told The Jakarta Post
on Thursday. Coordination might take sometime since Hengky Tansania, the ship's
owner, is still being treated at Surabaya hospital in East Java.
"We will coordinate with the company and continue to search for the remaining
passengers," Benny said. He said it is the obligation of the ship's owner, PT Lintas
Samudera Pertiwi, to cover insurance. In reality, he said, the ship only insures
passengers taking the Ambon-Leksula route and not for those taking the return
Leksula-Ambon trip. "We'll hold the ship's owner responsible for this problem," Benny
said without elaborating. Meanwhile, a water police vessel deployed from Bitung to
help in the search sunk Wednesday in Tanjung Kayu Putih waters, in Batabual
district, Buru regency. No casualties were reported in the incident.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|