JAKARTA: Three Indonesian crew members have been rescued and are being assisted to return home after the merchant vessel MV Gold Autumn was damaged in an explosion in the Arabian Sea earlier this week.
The Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Karachi said it had provided assistance and protection to the crew following the April 7 incident, which occurred about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan and caused significant damage to the vessel.
KJRI Karachi immediately took responsive measures after receiving initial information and coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad and local authorities.
"KJRI Karachi promptly carried out the pickup of the crew members and provided consular assistance, including the facilitation of emergency travel documents,” it said in a statement, on Saturday.
According to KJRI Karachi, the vessel, a Panama-flagged ship operated by a company from China, had been en route from Shanghai to Oman when the incident occurred, adding that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the authorities.
Following the incident, it said the Pakistan Navy conducted a humanitarian rescue operation on April 8 and successfully evacuated the crew, including the three Indonesians.
"They received medical examinations and initial treatment before arriving at Karachi Port on April 9 at 1.30 pm local time,” it said.
KJRI Karachi said it is continuing coordination with relevant parties to facilitate the crew members’ return to Indonesia.
The consulate also said it would continue to monitor developments and maintain close coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad and Pakistani authorities to ensure the process proceeds safely and smoothly. - Bernama
