Indonesia extends search for plane crash victims for three days
Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) on January 18 decided to extend the search for the bodies of passengers and debris of the crashed Sriwijaya Air Flight SJ-182 for another three days.
A ceremony to hand over the flight data recorder of the crashed Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) –𝄹 Indonesia'sNational Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) on January 18 decided to extendthe search for the bodies of passengers and debris of the crashed Sriwijaya AirFlight SJ-182 for another three days.
The decision was made after a meetingbetween Basarnas and the Ministry of Transportation, the National Committee forTransportation Safety (KNKT), the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team andother relevant parties, said Basarnas chief Vice Marshal Bagus Puruhito. During the extended search operation,Basarnas will evaluate its daily findings to assess the outcome, effectiveness,and obstacles in the field, he informed. In addition, it will also reassessdevelopments to decide further steps in the search operation, he said. On January 15, Basarnas had extended thesearch operation by three days following a week long search for victims anddebris of the Sriwijaya Air plane, which had crashed in the waters off SeribuIslands on January 9. The second black box that contains theflight’s cockpit voice recorder has yet to be retrieved. Meanwhile, the divingteam continued to find body parts of the ill-fated plane's passengers. The Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 had lostcontact shortly after take-off. It had departed from Jakarta and was headed toPontianak. The plane had 50 passengers and 12 crew members on board. The incident is the deadliest aviationaccident in Indonesia after the crash of Lion Air’s Boeing 737 MAX into Javasea which claimed the lives of 189 passengers and crewmembers in 2018./.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on January 10 expressed his condolences to the families of the passengers and crew members and the Sriwijaya Air over the plane crash off Jakarta’s coast a day earlier.
President Director of Indonesia Financial Group (IFG) Robertus Billitea on January 10 said the group stands ready to support and compensate passengers on Srwiwijaya Air’s plane, which crashed into the sea on January 9 afternoon.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) stands ready to support its Indonesian counterpart with regard to the recent plane crash, said CAAV leader.
Indonesian relevant agencies have identified the first victim of the Sriwijaya Air plane crash on January 9 in which all 62 people on board were killed.
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
A ceremony to hand over the flight data recorder of the crashed Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) (Photo: VNA) 
