Vessel with 27 passangers reported missing in Masalembu water

Sumenep, Madura (ANTARA News) - As many as 27 passengers of "Salju Emas" vessel which left Masalembu port at about 14:00 local time on Monday for Gresik port, Kalianget, Sumenep district, Madura, were reported missing in Masalembu waters.

The belief that the passengers had gone missing during their voyage was based on the fact that the vessel until Wednesday at 18:30 local time had not arrived at the destination port of Gresik Putih, Kalianget, Madura, the chairman of non-governmental organization for tracing information on Sumenep community (LSM-Puslimas), Maktub Syarif, said here on Wednesday.

The distance between Masalembu port and Gersik Putih port in Kalianget was only 112 miles and could be covered in only 12 to 14 hours by a motor vessel.

Maktub said the vessel should have anchored at Gresik`s Putih port, Kalianget, at around 04:00 and 05:00 local time on Tuesday (Jan 15). "But until now, the vessel has yet to show up at the distination port and hence is believed to be missing in the waters."

Some passengers had brought with them cell phones But since Tuesday none of them could be contacted. "I am afraid something has happened to them."

Some members of passengers` families had reportedly conducted a search and contacted some fishermen passing Masalembu waters. But no results were reported.

He believed that the ill-fated vessel carrying goods, coconuts and some empty drums was dragged by the sea currents and stranded in an area near Kangean islands.

Meanwhile, the Sukajeruk village head , Maliyanto, admitted that his residents who boarded the ill-fated vessel had yet to arrive at the destination port.