JAKARTA: A Malaysian national has been confirmed among the three bodies recovered during a search and rescue (SAR) operation following the ferry capsizing tragedy in the Bali Strait late on the night of July 2.
Fauzey Awang, 55, was found in the waters off Perancak Beach, Bali, according to Eko Suyatno, Deputy of Operations and Preparedness at Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
The body, along with two other victims who were Indonesian nationals, was taken to Blambangan Hospital in Banyuwangi, East Java, for identification by the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Unit of the Indonesian Police.
"The SAR operation is still ongoing to locate those who remain missing," Eko said in a statement, adding that out of the 65 individuals aboard the ferry KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, 45 have been accounted for so far - 30 survivors and 15 confirmed dead.
Earlier reports stated that Fauzey was inside a tourist van that was also aboard the ferry during the incident. He was en route back to Malaysia via I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali after travelling from Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi in the van.
The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed that it has been in touch with the victim’s family in Malaysia to provide updates and will offer appropriate consular assistance.
The embassy also said that the family has informed them of their plans to travel to Banyuwangi on Friday. - Bernama
