Barupertama Observatory Incident

Barupertama Observatory Dissapearances

The Primary Observatory Range, from where the Staff was reported missing on the morning of 3 July 2019, presumed to have dissapeared the night before during the landfall of Tropical Storm Lao.
Date	19 July 2019 (2019-07-19)
Duration	Missing for 1979 Days
Location	Barupertama Aerospatial Observatory Range, Cukobai
Also known as	Gunungangin National Atmospheric Research Station (GNARS)
Type	Disappearance
Outcome	Unsolved, Currently Under Investigation

The Barupertama Observatory Incident (Huajiangite: 主孔和何堂失踪; Alphabetized Huajiangite: Zhǔkǒng hé Hétáng shīzōng; Zhukong and Hetang Disappearance) was a mass disappearance which took place in the Barupertama Aerospatial Observatory Range, near the peak of the Gunungangin Volcano on the Vanugalu District of Cukobai. Both Huajiangite and Cukobaian scientists and support staff were reported missing. The two stations affected during the event were Zhukong Observation Station (主孔观测基地; Zhǔkǒng guāncè jīdì and the Hekong Astronomical Observatory (何堂天文台; Hétáng tiānwéntái), both sites administered by the Huajiang Science Ministry. The crew of the Zhukong Observation Station were the last of the two stations that communicated with another station, Melati-Noore (the core facility of the range operated by Cukobai) at 8:31 PM. The disappearance is believed to have occurred sometime between 8:45 PM on 19 July to 3:30 AM Local Time the following day, during which all communications from the station were lost due to the concurrent landfall of Tropical Storm Lao. Emergency communications systems were opened up to give the all clear signal for all stations, however neither Zhukong nor Hekong responded to the signal. Further communication attempts were made by other stations to both of the affected stations but no communications were established.

An informal investigation was started by the authorities that were monitoring the Barupertama Observatory, which found all staff missing from both stations. This prompted a ground search and rescue team was organized by the Kaval 5 hours after at around 8:30 AM. a reported 46 Huajiangite and 14 Cukobaian scientists and site personnel were reported missing on the site. An analysis of both sites indicated two different possibilities. The Zhukong Observation Station analysis reported that there was a forced entry, and that much of the communications equipment was damaged or destroyed beyond repair. The Hetang Astronomical Observatory analysis reported that there was no forced entry, and that the communications equipment had been left untouched.

As of 1 August 2019, the search has found 15 of the missing staff. All other remaining scientists missing, and unofficially presumed dead. The search for the missing pilots has become one of the most controversial disappearances in Cukobai's history, prompting the 2019 Cukobai-Tangdi Summit.

Victims

While the entire primary crew of Zhukong and Hetang Stations were all Huajiangite nationals, and primarily of Qi descent, a number of support staffers were also present who were Cukobaian, largely of either Dusunpan or Cuko-Whaeamoean persons from the mainland districts. Following the official recognition of the disappearance by the Kaval on 4 July, the Barumpertama Observatory released the names of all scientists and support staff unaccounted for to the public.

Name	Position	Status	ID Number	Station Assignment
Tan Min 谭閔 (Tán Mǐn)	First Chief Scientist	Missing	42032	Zhukong
Chen Lipin 臣礼品 (Chén Lǐpǐn)	Second Chief Scientist	Missing	58343	Hetang
Wang Tao 汪桃 (Wāng Táo)	Chief Military Scientist	Missing	42348	Zhukong
Lu Feng 率缝 (Lǜ Fèng)	Military Scientist	Missing	42782	Zhukong
Fan Zhou 繁周 (Fán Zhōu)	Military Scientist	Missing	42746	Zhukong
Ti Hai 题海 (Tí Hǎi)	Military Scientist	Missing	58143	Hetang
Tian Zai 天再 (Tiān Zài)	Military Scientist	Missing	58974	Hetang
Fan Men 翻璊 (Fān Mén)	Communications Scientist	Missing	42136	Zhukong
Ti Mao 体毛 (Tǐ Máo)	Communications Scientist	Missing	42875	Zhukong
Gou Zhong 狗种 (Gǒu Zhǒng)	Communications Scientist	Missing	58964	Hetang