According to visuals received from the joint SAR team in Banjarbaru on Wednesday evening, hundreds of personnel were at the helicopter wreckage conducting an evacuation since it was discovered at 2:45 p.m. local time.
Basarnas Operations Director, First Admiral Yudhi Bramantyo, stated in a press conference in Banjarbaru on Wednesday evening that the On Scene Commander (OSC) had deployed all ground Search and Rescue Units (SRUs) to the location to assist with the evacuation process.
Visuals received showed no physical remains of the helicopter, only the green and blue tail section, and smoke. Meanwhile, the ground SAR team remained on standby at the scene amidst the rainy weather.
One victim has been found dead and is being evacuated, while seven others remain missing and are being searched for.
Previously, an Eastindo Air BK117 D3 helicopter lost contact while flying near Mentewe, Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan Province, on Monday, September 1, at around 8:54 a.m. local time.
The helicopter was carrying eight people: a pilot, an engineer, and six passengers: Capt. Haryanto, Eng. Hendra, Mark Werren, Yudi Febrian, Andys Rissa Pasulu, Santha Kumar, Claudine Quito, and Iboy Irfan Rosa.
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Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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