"The victim was reported missing while diving in the waters of Reong Island, North Aru, Southwest Maluku District, Maluku, on Thursday (September 26, 2024)," Chief of the Southwest Maluku Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Pulung Wietono said when contacted from here on Friday.
He informed that Monfore and her six friends, accompanied by a tour guide from Kalabahi, East Nusa Tenggara, arrived at the diving site and carried out their activity at around 9 a.m. local time.
At the time, the sea waves were strong with heavy underwater currents so it is suspected that the victim was dragged away by the currents.
"We obtained this information from the Ambon Search and Rescue (Basarnas) team via mobile phone in the afternoon (September 27)," he said.
On Saturday morning (September 28), the Wetar Sub-district Police was contacted by tour guide Seno Suwarno, who confirmed that one foreigner had gone missing.
The victim's friends tried to search for her using Phinisi Tiare, Seemore, and Phinisi Neiomi ships as they were traveling to Banda, Central Maluku District.
"Search efforts continued on Saturday at around 12 a.m. local time. The Basarnas team arrived at Reong Island and carried out a search operation, but the victim has not yet been found," Wietono informed.
The SAR operation lasted until 3:30 p.m. local time on Thursday (October 3).
Wietono emphasized that tour guides need to inform the authorities when such accidents happen so that the security and safety of tourists can be prioritized.
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Translator: Daniel, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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