"Yes, it is true, (the body of) one victim, allegedly an Indonesian migrant worker, was found by the Singapore Marine Police, and it was immediately taken to Singapore for investigation," Head of the Tanjung Pinang SAR Office Slamet Riyadi noted when contacted in Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday.
Riyadi confirmed to have received information on the finding from the Singaporean police that had inquired whether they were still searching for the victims.
"We are still checking names of the victims in the search to confirm whether or not it (the body) is (that of) one of the victims," he remarked.
Riyadi noted that until now, the body was still kept in Singapore for further investigation.
"It is a male, but we can only confirm it later this afternoon," he noted.
Meanwhile, Head of Riau Islands' Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) Mangering Sinaga confirmed that the agency had not yet received official information regarding the finding.
"However, later, when official information is received, we will share the news immediately," he stated.
The search for the seven missing migrant workers in the waters of Nongsa, Batam City, has entered its sixth day.
A joint team from the Indonesian military, police, and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) continue the search for the victims.
A boat, carrying aboard 30 Indonesian illegal migrant workers, capsized in the waters of Batam, Riau Islands, on Thursday (June 16), on its way to Malaysia.
Related news: Batam: Seven illegal migrant workers still missing after boat sinking
Some 23 passengers were rescued in the incident, while seven migrant workers went missing.
An official of West Nusa Tenggara's (NTB's) BP2MI Abri Danar Prabawa stated that most of the migrant workers are the residents of NTB.
All rescued workers were evacuated to the Batam Naval Base.
Related news: Seven missing as boat carrying 30 migrants capsizes in Batam
Translator: Ilham Y Pratama, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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