Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - A Central Java fishing boat overturned and drowned in the border waters of Kotabaru with West Sulawesi. The survivors have been evacuated by Navy Ship (KAL) Kelambau belonging to the Kotabaru Naval Base.
"KAL Kelambau has been commanded by Kotabaru Naval Base Commander to carry out SAR operation to the incident at the west of Masalima Island," said KAL Commander Marine Captain (P) Dwi Sulistyo on Tuesday.
He told, Monday (13/11) morning, fishing boat KM Makmur Rejeki from Juwana, Pati, Central Java, upside down when fishing in the waters of Masalima. Administratively, the region entered West Sulawesi, but the distance is closer to Kotabaru.
"Up there we met KM Rudi Putra, the first fishing boat to evacuate the victims," ??said Dwi.
When departing from Pati 12 days ago, KM Makmur Rejeki brought 25 ship crews. A total of 18 crew survived the disaster, while one person died from drowning and six others missing.
The survivors and the body of a crew who from KM Rudi Putra then evacuated to KAL Kelambau and taken to Kotabaru. They were then referred to Kotabaru District General Hospital to undergo a medical examination.
The skipper of KM Makmur Rejeki Rasulin recounted the disaster happened when the crew worked. When pulling the net full of fish, without the sign of the 58 GT tonnage was tilted and reversed.
"There is no wind, no waves, no leak, When pulling the net, tilted, and straightly upside down," he said.
Strangely the load of the ship was on the right side, but the ship just upsided down to the left. All of the crashed crew tried to save themselves each by searching for a buoy, then climbing onto the ship's embossed body. Armed with a gallon of mineral water, Rasulin swims for help.