SURABAYA: Fifteen-year-old Chiara Natasha is all alone now.
Her parents, Herumanto Tanus and Indahju Liangsih, together with brothers Nick and Justin Giovanni, were among the 162 people on board Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 that went missing.
She was waiting for them in Singapore for a family holiday but they did not arrive.
“They were supposed to join me in Singapore where I am studying with Nico (Nick),” Chiara said as she held a picture of them taken the last time they were in Singapore.
Herumanto, an accountant, and Indahju, a housewife, were both 46. Nick is 17 while Justin is 9.
“I study at Methodist Girls School and Nico at St Andrews Junior College. I did not go back for Christmas as I had school activities.
“Nick was returning to start the new semester at St Andrews. I was shocked and didn’t know what to do when I was told about the aircraft going missing, but I will pray hard.”
Chiara is staying with her aunt, Linda, who is Herumanto’s eldest sister.
They were among more than 100 people who attended a briefing by the authorities and Indonesia AirAsia on the latest developments in the search and rescue operation.
“She is all alone now but we will look after her until this is over,” Linda said, adding that at the briefing, officials said there were more than 20 large vessels and aircraft looking for the missing plane in the Java sea and South Kalimantan.
Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency head Hernanto said on the first day, the search effort was hampered by strong currents, waves and overcast skies.
“Today, we have reports coming from the ground that visibility was better and the sea was calmer.”