Government Makes an Effort to Evacuate 35 Indonesian Victims of Sunken Ship in Russia

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi gives explanation to reporters at Presidential Office, Jakarta on Wednesday

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi said that Indonesian Government kept communicating with Russian Government to rescue Indonesian citizens (WNI) in South Korean Fishing Vessel, Oryong 501, which sank at Bering Strait.

 “This morning (3/12) Foreign Affairs Ministry held coordinating meeting with related agencies to find out the names of Indonesians, and the evacuation step,” Retno Lestari said prior to Cabinet Meeting at Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (3/12).

Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, said that 6 Indonesians could be rescued by Russia SAR team from South Korean Fishing Vessel, Oryong 501, Bering Strait, particularly at Chukotka offshore, Eastern part of Russia on Monday afternoon (1/12) local time.

Indonesian Ambassador for Russia, Djauhari Oratmangun, on Tuesday (2/12) morning said that KBRI had sent team to the closest city from the incident scene, and still searched Indonesian names that were reported missing.

 “The last information from Russian Foreign Ministry, 8 people including 6 Indonesians were successfully rescued by Russian SAR team from fishing vessel Oryong 501,” Djauhari Oratmangun said.

According to Indonesian Ambassador, 35 Indonesians became victims of the sunken South Korean fishing vessel at Bering Strait. However, the certain number of passengers boarding on Oryong 501 was still mazy. Russian government said on Tuesday (2/12) that the number of crew members was 62 people.

While South Korean news agency, Yonhap, quoted the spokesman of South Korean Ministry Maritime and Fisheries said that the crew members were 60 people. The passengers who were at 40 years old weighing totally 1,753 ton, consisting of 25 crews from Indonesia, 13 from Philippines, and 11 Korean citizens, and 1 inspector from Russia.

 “South Korean Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries added that apart from 1 Korean who found dead, 7 others could be rescued,” Yonhap wrote.

Oryong 501 was 36 years old and operated by Sajo Industries to catch Pollock Fish (Pollachius sp). Currently there were 5 Korean vessels operating on Bering Strait to catch Pollock Fish, which became popular winter delicacy in South Korea.

While Russian news agency Interfax reported that 4 Russian fishing boats also took part in the search amid bad weather. “The search is ongoing. Yet, the effort of searching missing victims of South Korean shipwreck is blocked by storm,” the Coordinator of Maritime Rescue at far east port Petropavloysk-Kamchatsky, Russia, Artur Rets said.(Kun/WID/ES)