TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The entire crew of the Indonesian fishing boat KM Bandar Nelayan 188 that ran into an accident in the Indian Ocean had been rescued. The Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed there were 20 crew members on the fishing boat that sank in the waters located about 650 nautical miles west of Perth, Australia.

“All crew members totaling 20 Indonesians have been successfully rescued,” as quoted from the ministry's statement published on its page kemlu.go.id today, May 17.

The ministry said the evacuation was carried out with the help of a Japanese fishing boat near the location, FV Fukuseki Maru 15, on Saturday, May 15.

The crew members were then transferred to the Australian Navy Ship HMAS ANZAC which was deployed to assist in the rescue operation and provide medical assistance.

The crew members were reported to be in good health and show no Covid-19 symptoms. However, one crew named Darno had an infected wound on his finger and was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth using a helicopter for further treatment.

The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Consulate General in Perth coordinated with the Australian Border Force, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, the Royal Australian Navy, and Indonesia Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) during the search and evacuation process.

The Indonesian government appreciated the rescue operations carried out by the Australian authorities and the support of the Japanese fishing boat, and other parties. It was planned that HMAS Anzac would directly escort the crew members to Bali.

Read: Govt Sinks Foreign Illegal Fishing Boats Caught in Indonesian Waters

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI