JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A joint rescue team of about 80 people continued for a third day of the search for a missing helicopter in Indonesia's South Kalimantan province, the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) said Wednesday.

The team, divided into two air and three ground units, focused its operations in the Mentewe Forest area.

"Before beginning the search, the ground units installed a repeater to strengthen radio communication in the field," said Arianto, an official with the local BASARNAS office.

The ground units are combing an area of 100 square nautical miles in the forest, while air units conducted searches at 3,000 feet using parallel and sector patterns over designated coordinates.

A helicopter carrying eight people went missing after losing contact with air traffic control in South Kalimantan on Monday. ■