Head of the Banda Aceh Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, AL Hussain, stated when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday that the victims were found floating in the waters of the sea about 21 miles from the Jetty Ujong Karang Harbor, Meulaboh, Thursday, at around 09:00 WIB.
He remarked that the 69 victims comprised 42 men, 18 women, and nine children.
According to Hussain, the SAR team, onboard KN SAR Kresna since 12:00 WIB, was still attempting to evacuate dozens of victims from the sea.
Personnel of the Indonesian Navy and the Banda Aceh Air and Water Police (Polairud) assisted in the evacuation process.
The Banda Aceh SAR Team will take the victims to the Ujung Karang Jetty Harbor for data collection.
"Currently, the team is still being deployed on the field. We will convey further information soon," he remarked, adding that he could not as yet confirm the number of refugees who survived and those who died.
Earlier, Basarnas had received reports that around 100 Rohingya ethnic immigrants were victims of an incident in which a ship sank in the waters of Samatiga Sub-district, West Aceh Regency, Wednesday (Mar 20).
Based on information received from the Samatiga sub-district head, hundreds of Rohingya ethnic immigrants were en route to Australia but their ship capsized and sank on the way.
Six ethnic Rohingya immigrants were rescued by fishermen and temporarily housed at the Samatiga Sub-district Office, Aceh Regency.
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Translator: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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