Nabire, Central Papua. A joint search and rescue team is searching for three National Police officers and two civilians who have been missing since their motorboat drifted out to sea while traveling from Serui to Waropen, Papua, on Aug. 23.

Central Papua Water and Air Police Director Mas Anton Widyodigdo said search teams were taking into account ocean currents, wind direction, weather conditions, and information from coastal communities in determining the search area.

“The search will continue to be intensified while prioritizing personnel safety, responding quickly to every piece of information, and maintaining coordination among all search and rescue units,” Anton said in Nabire on Wednesday.

The three missing police officers were identified as Lamek Abon, Farel Raunsai, and Melfin Maniani, all of whom hold the rank of second brigadier. The two civilians are boat operator Amsal Yowei and Malfin Yowei.

The white motorboat departed Serui at around 5 a.m. local time on Sunday. At approximately 5 p.m., Lamek sent a WhatsApp message to his unit reporting that the boat had been swept by currents and was drifting farther out to sea.

The message provided search teams with an initial clue to the vessel’s possible location. Authorities believe currents and winds may have carried the boat westward toward waters off Nabire.

As of Tuesday, joint teams had searched several areas around Nabire, including the coastal villages of Moor, Arui, Wapoga, Hariti, Mambor, and Napan, as well as Moor Island, Babi Island, and surrounding coastlines and islands.

Personnel from the Central Papua Police’s Water and Air Police Directorate have also been deployed to expand the operation into the eastern Nabire sector. Search teams have covered approximately 108 kilometers, or 58.3 nautical miles.

The operation has been hampered by poor visibility caused by haze and murky atmospheric conditions. Visibility in some areas has fallen to around 300 meters, making visual searches difficult.

Anton urged coastal residents, fishermen, and operators of offshore fishing platforms to immediately contact authorities if they spot any sign of the missing boat or its passengers.

“We continue to coordinate with local communities, fishermen, and fishing platform workers to obtain information as quickly as possible if there are any signs of the boat or its passengers,” Anton said.

Add as a preferred source on Google +