The rescuers found the body of this 40-year-old skipper some 5.4 kilometers away from the scene of the accident at around 3:20 a.m. local time, Head of the SAR Agency-Pontianak Office Yopi Haryadi notified local journalists here on Tuesday.
Asek’s body was moved to the Kubu Public Health facility for a post-mortem examination, he confirmed.
On the day of the collision, Asek was transporting a passenger from Senentang to Kubu Sub-district. The passenger survived the accident, while Asek had reportedly gone missing.
Haryadi urged local boat operators to prioritize the safety and security of those boarding their vessels to avoid similar accidents from occurring in future. Their boats should be equipped with life vests and communication devices to handle any untoward incidents.
Indonesia remains vulnerable to sea accidents.
On July 5, 2020, Motor Vessel Kasih 25 had capsized in the Fukuafu waters, off Kupang District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, resulting in five passengers going missing.
In June this year, a tugboat, Multi Sahabat 8, had capsized in the Batu Ampar waters, off Batam Island, Riau Islands Province. Although four of the tugboat’s crew survived, its skipper went missing.
In another accident in West Sumatra Province, three fishermen went missing after their fishing boat sank near the Gosong Gadang Island in Padang.
On June 18, 2018, Indonesia had borne witness to the fatal accident of MV "Sinar Bangun," reportedly carrying onboard 202 passengers, which had met its watery grave at the bottom of Lake Toba in North Sumatra Province.
Consequently, three passengers lost their lives, while 164 others had gone missing. Only 21 survived the tragedy that struck at a time when the Indonesian government was making all-out efforts to promote Lake Toba to be one of the 10 priority destinations "Beyond Bali."
Related news: Pontianak SAR team looks for missing MV Cahaya Baru
Related news: Search continues for remaining passengers of capsized boat
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Andilala, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
