"The survivors of the ship included eight from Taikimaru."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A total of 330 Indonesians who lived in three most devastated of the 9-magnitude earthquake and strong tsunami in Japan are safe, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here Wednesday (March 16).

"There are 496 people in the three most affected regions in the the Japan earthquake including 330 confirmed in a safe condition," said Marty.

Marty said that of the 274 people in Miyagi prefecture, 256 survived , while in Iwate of the 140 Indonesians, 50 of 82 people in Fukushima, and another 24 confirmed safe

"It means the safety of 166 Indonesians was yet to be confirmed, hopefully that number can be further reduced," said Marty.

Besides the four Indonesian ship crew members in Japan, Marty said that 21 were still missing, and another 24 were confirmed safe.

"Four crew members of the Kunimaru 3 are are still missing since Sunday (March 13), also 17 crew members of Yahata Maru 3 lost contact since Friday (Mar 11)," said Marty.

"And the survivors of the ship included eight from Taikimaru. 7 from Shinko Maru 78 and another 9 of KM Jaya TBI, but the data are tentative and constantly updated," said Marty.

Marty also said that Indonesia on Thursday (March 17) will send a rescue team of 11 volunteers to Japan.

"Actually, the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) had recruited 60 people including 20 searchers and a rescue team (SAR), 20 military men (TNI) and 20 medical personnel, but only 11 people had ready been dispatched," said Marty.

The teams sent under the request of the Japanese government as relief team is moving independently.

"There are two possible scenarios, the first is the team will join the other rescue teams coordinated under the Japanese government and the second scenario is to move independently with the team of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo prioritizing the protection of Indonesians," he said.

The team members may likely be stationed in Tokyo, said Marty.

Marty also said that the Indonesian government had already contacted the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Dian Triansyah Djani will cooperate with the international community in the United Nations in giving support to Japan.

It has also been reported that there 109 Indonesians have already arrived in Jakarta from Japan, including 99 have returned on Tuesday (March 15) and another 10 on Wednesday (March 16) by Garuda Indonesia flight GA 885.
(T.A050/H-NG/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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