VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government through the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) together with the Singapore SAR held joint training on handling ship accidents, aircraft, and disasters at sea, to enhance cooperation between the two countries in handling shipping accidents.

"In the 38th joint SAR training between Indonesia and Singapore in 2020, Basarnas Pangkalpinang City, Babel Island Province will be the host," said Basarnas Preparedness Director, Didi Hamzar when opening a virtual joint Indonesian SAR exercise in Pangkalpinang, Tuesday.

He said the joint SAR exercise Indonesia - Singapore this year entitled Indopura was held for three days from 13 to 15 October 2020 followed by 150 Basarnas and RCC Singapore personnel using Singapore airplanes, state ships, ambulances, trucks, and motorbikes.

"The exercise for this time is still being carried out even in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic and this joint training between countries regarding the help and search for new people, Basarnas has carried out the first time in this coronavirus pandemic," he said.

According to him, the trainees from Indonesia will receive material in the form of provisioning, technical drills, and application and technology capabilities.

The supplies provided include procedures for conducting search and rescue operations between countries, procedures for handling aircraft accidents, communication, and coordination.

"In this joint exercise, a plane that has lost contact at the FIB Indonesia - Singapore border will be simulated and it is known that it crashed in Pangkalpinang waters. Trainees from the two countries will coordinate to carry out the search and rescue of victims," ​​he said.

He added that the joint training activity with SAR Indonesia - Singapore is a Basarnas work program that is held annually, to increase cooperation between the two countries in handling accidents and natural disasters at sea.

"We hope that this activity can provide understanding and cooperation between SAR authorities in Indonesia and Singapore in search and rescue operations for aircraft and ship crash victims," ​​he said.

In addition, this joint exercise can improve the readiness of human resources in carrying out victim search operations, create facility readiness, mobilize effective elements in operations, and increase the ability to coordinate between SAR in Indonesia and Singapore.

"In the condition of COVID-19, this adds to Basarnas procedures in searching for and rescuing accident victims by adhering to the COVID-19 health protocol that applies in their respective countries," said Didi Hamzar. (Antaranews)