Selasa 03 Jul 2018 12:08 WIB

Govt stops search operation of MV Sinar Bangun victims

The depth of Lake Toba hinders the search operation of MV Sinar Bangun victims.

Rep: Rr Laeny Sulistyawati, Puti Almas/ Red: Reiny Dwinanda
Families of MV Sinar Bangun victims sow flowers at Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Monday (July 2).
Foto: Antara/Sigid Kurniawan
Families of MV Sinar Bangun victims sow flowers at Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Monday (July 2).

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The search for victims of MV Sinar Bangun which sank in Lake Toba, North Sumatra will be stopped on July 3. The decision has been approved by victims’ families in a meeting between Simalungun Government, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT), and Jasa Marga.

“Termination of victims search operation is set on July 3,” said  National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho on Monday (July 2).

According to Sutopo, KNKT has conducted investigation and analyze the incident. However, KNKT was experiencing difficulties due to the depth of Lake Toba. Team has been conducting a shipwreck investigation at a depth of about 200 meters while the ship sank at a depth around 450 meters.

Sutopo said KNKT could not figure out yet the situation of MV Sinar Bangun. Therefore, it was hard to determine the next steps and equipments needed for evacuation.