Kotabaru fisherman lost after his boat hit by waves, three survive

Kotabaru, Kalsel (AntaranewsKalsel) - A fisherman disappeared after his boat was hit by huge waves in Pudi waters, North Kelumpang Subdistrict, Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, while three other fishermen were rescued by passing ship.

"We have received information from the Port Authority (KSOP) of Samarinda," said Head Section of Safety Sailing, Guarding and Patrol of Kotabaru Port Authority Suripto, Saturday.

He told that on Sept 13, at 18.30 pm, the Tb Trans Power 243 ship on the way to Samarinda met the three men floating on a big tree. The skipper immediately deployed the ship to help.

"According to the information the three fishermen, there is still one friend who is missing," said Suripto.

Previously, the fishermen group from Hilir Muara Village, North Pulaulaut, Kotabaru, went to sea on September 8, 2017.

After installing the net in the waters of Pudi, at about 22:00 pm their ship hit by the waves and strong winds until the stern of the ship broke. The ship sank and the four fishermen plunged into waters.

They swam until they found a big tree and climbed on it. For two long nights they were floating, one of them, Yudi, suddenly plunged in and never appeared again.

"Maybe hunger, cannot take it anymore, finally plunge in," Suripto added.

Three days later, three victims, Ilham, Suwardi, and Dodo, met Tb Trans Power 243. Now all three are in Samarinda.

"Last night we contacted the family and the shipowner also came. We told the shipowner to pick up the victims," ??he said.

According to Suripto, the ship's agent is willing to help repatriate the three victims with a travel car from Samarinda to Kotabaru, but constrained by the physical condition is still weak.

Meanwhile, coordination with Kotabaru water police and Basarnas resulted, SAR operation to the missing victim is not done. This is because the sinking position of the ship and the loss of the victim is not known for sure. In addition, the time span of the incident has been long enough, so the search waits if there is information that can be a clue the existence of the victim.