Basarnas deployed to search for victims of sunken boat

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of Maumere I Putu Sudayana confirmed he had deployed all rescue teams, with equipment in tow, at the site where KM Nusa Kenari sank.

"We have deployed all our resources at the scene. From Maumere, Alor the team have already arrived at the location. We have also sought assistance from Basarnas of Kupang to send ships and teams to the location to jointly look for the victims," Sudayana informed Antara on Saturday (15/6).

Sudayana made the statement during a telephonic conversation from Kupang in connection with the search for eight victims of the KM Nusa Kenari that had yet to be found.

The Maumere Basarnas head clarified that the exact number of passengers and crew members was yet unknown, as there is no precise data on those onboard the ill-fated ship.

The Nusa Kenari motorboat sank in the waters of Tanjung Margeta on Saturday at 5 a.m. local time in the morning while cruising from Kalabahi to Poreman Village.

The captain claimed that the ship had carried 30 passengers to Poreman Village.

Of these, 20 passengers survived after swimming to the beach, along with the ship's captain and one crew member, while two people died.

However, eight other passengers are yet missing, and search is currently underway to this end.

He noted that no certainty had yet been gained over the exact number of passengers and crew after communication with the ship's captain, as only those on board knew how many people were there.