REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) spent more than 570 million IDR in 16-day search of AirAsia QZ8501. The total amount is considered small because other countries helped the search.

"We spent 573 million IDR for 16 days," Head of Basarnas, Bambang Soelistyo, said on Tuesday, January 20. The highest budget is for fuel.

The total amount is less than expected. Soelistyo thanked other countries which helped finding the ill-fated aircraft. "They helped us without asking for fuel," he said.

Soelistyo said that the fund came from his internal budget, Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas (SKK Migas) and other oil and gas companies. "We return the remaining budget," he said.

SKK Migas gave 3,500 kiloliter fuel to Basarnas. From Desember 28 to January 13, Basarnas spent 2.2 million liter of diesel fuel, 179,000 liter of aviation fuel and 3,000 liter of premium fuel.

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