REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TIGARAS -- A team of kayaks from the Sumatran Paddler and Onestha Camp has deployed personnel to help search for MV Sinar Bangun Motor passengers. The victims drowned in the waters of Lake Toba on Monday afternoon.
Before departing from the Port of Tigaras, Simalungun District, on Thursday, Manager of Sumatran Paddler Tommy Sembiring noted that it has deployed 10 kayak paddlers to search Lake Toba. A rubber boat, three kayaks, and one "inflate-table," which is like a rubber boat, were used while searching for the victims.
The team was conducting combing operations in the Sipolha area, which became the location of the search for one of the passengers of the Sinar Bangun Motor Boat.
They also combed the Sibaganding area and waters of the Port of Tigaras and monitored the periphery of Lake Toba.
"We have been here for three days, starting from Tuesday (June 19) until now," he added.
Also read: Search efforts for Lake Toba ship accident to last 7 days
According to Sembiring, in searching for the victims, his side has coordinated with the Indonesian National Agency of Search and Relief team that led the rescue. To prevent untoward incidents, all personnel are required to use life jackets or buoys while performing tasks.
"The use of life jacket is in accordance with the standard operational procedures," he explained.
MV Sinar Bangun reportedly capsized in the waters of Lake Toba, between Simanindo sub-district in Samosir district and Tigaras village, Dolok Pardamean sub-district, Simalungun district, North Sumatra province, on Monday at around 05:30 p.m. local time. The joint team has found 19 survivors and three victims after the search process.
Meanwhile, the captain of MV Sinar Bangun survived the incident. He has been secured by the police.
The latest development revealed that the boat carried 206 people while its capacity was only 43 passengers. The captain of MV Sinar Bangun also ignored weather warning issued twice by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
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