Ten crew members of sunken LCT Ayu-5 rescued by Seram fishermen

Ten crew members of LCT Ayu-5, which sank on Seram Island waters, Maluku, last week, were rescued by the island`s local fishermen, a local official said.

Seram fishermen found six survivors on Wednesday (July 25), and four others on Thursday (July 26), Maluku Provincial Transportation Service Head Benny Gaspersz told ANTARA on Friday.

The ill-fated landing craft tank (LCT) belonged to PT Ayu Shipping based in Jakarta, he said.

The LCT capsized after being hit by huge waves and strong winds in Maluku waters last weekend, he said.

The skipper of the LCT was still missing, he added.

Benny Gaspersz said that a local transportation official of Waisarissa, Kairatu subdistrict, contacted him on Thursday evening, to report about the finding of the surviving crew members.

The survivors were later evacuated to Piru, the capital of Western Seram subdistrict, for medical treatment at a local community health center and for questioning by local police.

PT Ayu Shipping was reported of sending a team to Maluku to take the survivors back to Jakarta and investigate about the accident.

Rescue efforts were carried out to look for Skipper Sunario, who had decided to stay inside the vessel while his crew members had intended to jump into the sea as the LTC was sinking. (*)