JEMBER, Kompas – High wave sank a fisherman’s vessel in Plawangan, Puger District, Jember Regency, East Java, on Saturday (1/24). The payang-type vessel carrying 28 crews was hit and capsized.
“The shocking incident did not claim any lives but fishermen’s catches such as lemuru and tuna fishes were thrown to sea,” said Catur, a fisherman witnessing the incident.
The vessel belonging to Mulyono, a resident of Puger Kulon Villge Puger District, departed to catch fish in southern waters of Jember at midnight. After catching around 5 tons of fish, the vessel headed back to its base by crossing Plawangan at dawn.
Plawangan is the meeting point of Bedadung River and Besini River with offshore sea and a gate of all fishing vessels to offshore sea. The vessel sank around 6.30 a.m. when it entered Plawangan waters.
“Due to tidal waves, the vessel’s rudder was broken and the vessel lost control. It hit coral reef and 28 vessel crews were thrown to sea safely,” said Sofyan, Mulyono’s elder brother who owns the vessel.
The captured fishes and all fishing tools were sunk to the bottom of shallow sea. The broken vessel was pulled by some fishing vessels to the shore.
From Jayapura, a rescue team on Sunday (1/25) around 3 a.m. local time found the corpse of Yuni, one of five motor vessel passengers sinking in Kokonao Waters, Mimika Regency, Papua. Until yesterday, two fatalities had been evacuated. The team successfully evacuated a survivor.
According to the data from local police, the motor vessel carrying five residents sank in Kokonao waters on Saturday at 8 a.m. local time. Bad weather and 3-meter wave height had sunk the vessel.
“Rescue team is a joint team of Mimika SAR Agency and 17 security officers. Search efforts did not run optimally due to bad weather. However, the search of two missing victims will not be halted,” said Mimika SAR Agency Spokesman, Muhammad, as contacted from Jayapura on Sunday.
Papua Police Spokesman, Comm. Patrige Renwarin, said his office has secured Ambrosius in Kokonao Sector Police. Ambrosius allegedly had not obtained sailing permit from harbormaster.
Different with other regions, the voyage from Ambon to some areas in Maluku has returned normal since yesterday. The voyage destination is Namlea, in Buru and Namrole Regency in South Buru Regency.
Sea wave in Banten waters, which was not conducive, has returned normal gradually. (Kompas)
