East Java Provincial Police Deputy Chief Brig. Gen. Edi Sumantri confirmed the evacuation after inspecting the area where the immigrants were evacuated aboard a police helicopter.
"The evacuation has been done. But it is still unclear whether they are part of the people whose boat sank in Prigi waters. We still have to question them after they have arrived in Jember," he said.
All the 13 immigrants were found safe but appeared to be very weak because of dehydration and depression, he said.
The evacuation was done by a team of the National Search and Rescue Board (Basarnas) and the local water police in cooperation with the crew of barge "Entebe Star II" who were the first to spot the victims, he said.
He said the 13 immigrants were rushed to Bhayangkara police hospital and regional hospital shortly after arriving at the port.
He also clarified that two people stranded on the Sendang Biru coast in South Malang district, East Java, were fishermen from East Nusa Tenggara province. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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