Boat Sinks in Kaimana Waters, Six Passengers Die

Six people died in the sinking of a boat carrying 18 passengers in the waters of Kaimana, West Papua.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

SAR TIMIKA

The SAR team evacuated one of the five victims who died in a motorboat accident in Kaimana Regency, West Papua, on Friday (30/6/2023).

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS - A motorized boat carrying 18 residents sank in the waters of Kaimana Regency, West Papua, on Friday (30/6/2023). Local fishermen and SAR teams rescued 12 passengers, while 6 passengers were found dead until Saturday afternoon.

The Head of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Office in Timika, George Randang, when contacted from Jayapura, Papua, stated that they received a report of a motorboat carrying 18 people sinking in the waters of Kampung Esenia, Buruway District, Kaimana, at 10:40 WIT. Although located in West Papua Province, Kaimana is part of SAR Timika's work area.

George stated that the 40 horsepower motor boat departed from the capital of Kaimana to Esenia Village on Thursday at 23.00 WIT. The boat was supposed to arrive in Esenia on Friday at 01.00 WIT. However, the boat sank when entering the waters of Esenia.

Together with local fishermen, we successfully rescued 12 passengers of a local fisherman.

The identities of the 12 survivors are Marsianus, Arnold, James, Yosias, Sedek, Triska, Milka, Riski, Maya, Kristopol, Siska and Neti. While the six victims who died were Nurmayanti, Abraham, Masdiyana Kudo, Jihan, Glend Edwar, and Putri.

SAR TIMIKA

The SAR team is looking for passengers who disappeared in a motorboat accident in the waters of Kaimana Regency, West Papua, Saturday (1/7/2023).

Jihan is a dead victim who was just found by the joint SAR team on Saturday at 13.50 WIT. It is known that three of the six victims who died were toddlers, namely Abraham, Glend, and Putri.

"We together with local fishermen managed to save 12 passengers from the local fishermen. Meanwhile, six passengers were found dead and have been taken to the Kaimana Regional General Hospital," said George.

Also read: Two Ships Sink, Beware of High Waves in Southern Waters of Papua

He mentioned that the six victims who died have been handed over to their respective families. The latest victim found by the joint SAR team on Saturday is named Jihan, after a five-hour search effort in the waters where the boat sank.

Synergize

"We synergize with the TNI-Polri and local fishermen have successfully found this 9-year-old victim. We used three boats to search for Jihan around the incident location and sweeping along the beach," said George.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Floating nets used by fishermen to catch fish were seen in the waters of Kaimana, Kaimana Regency, West Papua, on Monday (14/6/2021).

Meanwhile, the weather forecaster from Sorong Meteorological Station, Rizky Umul Nisa, stated that based on observations from Thursday to Friday (30/6/2023), there was no bad weather in the waters around Kaimana. She explained that the weather was partly cloudy with a maximum wave height of only 1.25 meters.

"Based on our observation, the wave height in Kaimana waters is still safe and wind speed is still below 20 knots. There is a significant wave height in Fakfak Regency area reaching 2 meters," stated Rizky.

Also read: Boat Sink in Mamberamo River, Six Victims Found Dead, Two Still Wanted