SAR team deploys multibeam echosounder to locate JT 610

Lion Air JT 610 aircraft crashes into Tanjung Karawang waters minutes after takeoff.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The search and rescue team has deployed a multibeam echosounder sonar on Tuesday to locate the Lion Air JT 610 aircraft that crashed in the waters of Karawang in West Java. The device would scour the seabed in search of large metal objects.

"After that (the object is found), our divers will go down there," Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) M. Syuagi stated at the Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta.

The technology is expected to facilitate the search process, he noted. According to Syuagi, the depth of the waters, forecast to be around 30-35 meters, could not guarantee that the search operation would be easy.

The Basarnas has deployed 150 personnel in the search and rescue operation in addition to the military and police personnel.

"With appropriate device and human resources, I think we can find them soon," he added.

Meanwhile, Basarnas Bandung spokesman, Joshua said cloudy weather on the second day has challenged the search on Tuesday (Oct 30). Rain also has interfered visibility.

“Since early morning, the weather is rainy, so it has the potential to interfere with our visibility in detecting victims," he said.

This morning, four additional drivers joined the evacuation process. Joint team focused on nine coordinate points around Tanjung Karawang area.

"There are nine search locations. Each zone is divided into 20 fields. The team will focus there today," Joshua added.

Also read: Search and rescue team to work 24 hours non-stop: Basarnas

A Boeing 737 Max 8 flight JT 610, operated by Lion Air, crashed in the Karawang waters on Monday, some 15 minutes after taking off from the Soekarno Hatta Airport in Banten and was en route to Pangkalpinang.

The aircraft, bearing registration number PK-LQP, was last detected on the radar at coordinates 05 46.15 S - 107 07.16 E. It was scheduled to arrive in Pangkalpinang at 7:10 a.m. local time.

Basarnas confirmed that the aircraft, with 189 people on board, crashed in the Karawang waters of West Java.

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