TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Navy (TNI AL), on Matabongsang-873 patrol vessels, evacuated 17 victims of the sunken tourist vessel Putri Papua in the waters of Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on Monday, February 3, 2024. 

Head of the Fleet Command III Information Service Lieutenant Colonel Laut (S) Ajik Sismianto said the incident began at 05:47 a.m. local time when the fleet command received information via WhatsApp about engine damage experienced by the ship owned by Grand Komodo.

“Koarmada III ordered Matabongsang-873 to immediately carry out an evacuation at a distance of about 12 Nautical Miles (NM) from the reported location of the ship,” Ajik said on Monday, February 3, in a written statement.

The patrol vessel arrived at the scene at 7:22 p.m., but the motor vessel Putri Papua was not visible. Authorities then carried out search efforts towards the east. 

Ajik said that at 7:46 a.m. the patrol vessel received visual contact through smoke, but the boat was already sinking by the time authorities reached the location.  

According to Ajik, the Matabangsong-873 patrol vessel managed to evacuate 17 people, comprising 8 Indonesian crew members, 3 Indonesians, and 6 foreign passengers.

“There were 2 injured crew members, one of whom had a nail pulled out and the other was traumatized by the wreckage of the ship,” Ajik said. The injured victims were then taken to the Oetoyo Sorong Naval Hospital for treatment.

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