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Indonesia’s rescuers find personal items at ATR 42-500 crash site

Maros, South Sulawesi (ANTARA) – The search and rescue team handling the Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 plane crash has confirmed the discovery of items believed to belong to victims near the crash site on Mount Bulusaraung, South Sulawesi.Makassar SAR Office Head and mission coordinator Muhammad Arif Anwar said on Tuesday that items found included documents, wallets, notebooks, and electronic devices such as smartwatches.Rescuers also found life jackets and fire signals near the aircraft's cockpit area, he said.Anwar said all personal belongings and aircraft parts recovered at the site have been documented and their coordinates recorded, noting that the data are crucial for narrowing the search area and determining subsequent operational steps.”The terrain is extremely steep and poses significant risks to rescue teams. The operation requires specialized techniques to open access routes, as well as time, precision, and strong coordination among all stakeholders,” he said.Separately, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Chief Mohammad Syafii said the findings indicate the team is on the right track to locate key points of the wreckage and the victims.”This reflects hard work, discipline, and collaboration among stakeholders,” Syafii said, citing the team's progress despite difficult terrain and harsh weather at the crash site.Syafii said the search and rescue team would continue its work until the operation is completed.The ATR 42-500 aircraft was reported missing over Mount Bulusaraung while attempting to land at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar on January 17.The aircraft was carrying 10 people, comprising seven crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.The SAR team has recovered several pieces of aircraft debris and the bodies of two victims, whose identities have not yet been released.