Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) - The team of rescuers has, until now, evacuated 300 survivors and three bodies from MV Santika Nusantara that was destroyed by fire in the waters of Masalembu, East Java, on August 22, 2019.

"Of the total 303 passengers rescued, three are dead," Tholib Vatelehan, spokesman of the Surabaya Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), noted here on Saturday.

The rescuers evacuated 52 survivors and three dead bodies on Saturday and took them to Surabaya aboard MV Cundamani. On Friday, a total of 248 passengers were evacuated from the ill-fated ship.

"The joint search and rescue (SAR) team has continued to look for more possible victims until now," he stated.

Fire engulfed MV Santika Nusantara in the Masalembu waters on Thursday (Aug 22) at 8:45 p.m. local time while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

The roll on-roll off (roro) ship carried hundreds of passengers and 84 vehicles. The exact passenger count is yet unknown.

Translator: Malik, Hanif, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019