"Insyaallah (God willing), today (July 31), at 2:55 p.m. West Indonesian Time (UTC +7), fisherman Ade Elfikar will arrive at the Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport in Aceh Besar," Deputy Secretary-General of the traditional fishing community Panglima La'ot Miftach Tjut Adek stated in Banda Aceh on Saturday.
After his rescue and repatriation, Elfikar was required to undergo COVID-19 quarantine for a week at the emergency hospital to ensure no health issues, especially after being stranded in Thailand’s maritime territory.
After seven days of quarantine with no health issue detected, health authorities at Wisma Atlet, a former athletes village in Central Jakarta, allowed him to return home. The authorities arranged a flight departing for Aceh for Elfikar on Saturday (July 31).
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Adek remarked that once Elfikar arrived at the airport, he would be picked up by Panglima La'ot and officers from the Aceh Maritime and Fishery Resources Supervisory Board (PSDKP), Maritime and Fisheries Authority (DKP), and Social Affairs Office (Dinsos).
"Before returning to his hometown Sabang, he will be brought to the Social Affairs Office to complete several procedures," Adek stated.
Earlier, Elfikar had gone fishing on his traditional boat along with a group of fishermen’s boats from Sabang on Sunday (July 6). His boat went adrift after encountering engine damage, thereby resulting in him losing track of other fishing boats.
After being stranded for eight days, Elfikar was rescued by the National Coast Guard Area 3 boats, which found him on Sunday (July 13). His ship went adrift en route from Sabang to Racha Island, around 25.6 nautical miles south of Phuket Island, Thailand.
Related news: 5 repatriated Aceh fishermen allowed to go home: Panglima Laot
Translator: Rahmat Fajri, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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