A Singaporean diver, who went on a dive trip around 11.40am on Thursday (Jul 13) in the waters around Gili Lawa near Indonesia’s Komodo Island, has been reported missing. It is believed that Rinta Paul Mukkam, a 40-year-old associate regional sales manager, was on a boat with about 15 divers, but she did not surface with the rest of the group after a dive. After she failed to return to shore, a search team was dispatched, but she has yet to be found. Rescue efforts have restarted early this morning.
It was her brother, Roy Paul Mukkam, who spread the word on social media to request for anyone with help and information to come forward. According to The Straits Times, the 36-year-old lawyer said his sister was an experienced diver who had left Singapore on Wednesday and was due back on Monday. He was told around 8pm yesterday that his sister was missing, and that the search operation was called off in the evening after the sun set. He was also unsure of what had happened to her diving buddy.
She had been on board the KLM Seamore Papua, operated by Seamore Papua. Indonesian media reports said that rescue agency Badan SAR Kupang received a missing persons report on Thursday at 2.30pm, and a group of six rescuers were sent by motorboat to the site. The search is currently ongoing.
