11 Indonesian Fishermen Rescued after 6 Days Stranded in Australia's Remote Island

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Eleven Indonesian fishermen who got stranded on Bedwell Island, Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, were rescued by local authorities on Monday, April 17. They had been stuck on the remote reefs for six days.

"Their boat sank because of tropical Cyclone Ilsa," Judha Nugraha, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities, said via text message, Wednesday 19 April.

According to the information that the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin received from the Australian Border Force (ABF) Headquarters, the fishermen were taken to hospital in Broome, 313 kilometers east of Bedwell, for medical examination.

The fishermen from Rote Ndao, East Nusa Tenggara are said to be in good health even though they had spent six days without food and water.

The fishermen are expected to arrive in Darwin on Wednesday. 

"The Indonesian Consulate in Darwin has requested access to meet the fishermen and provide the necessary assistance," Judha said, adding that the Consulate will also facilitate the process of repatriating the fishermen back to Indonesia.

Representing the Indonesian government, Judha expressed his appreciation to the Australian government, especially ABF, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) for rescuing the Indonesian fishermen.

ANTARA

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