National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) head Air Marshal FH Bambang Soelistyo says the AirAsia flight QZ8501 search operation will be suspended for six days due to bad weather.

'We will postpone the operation until Imlek [Chinese New Year]. Basarnas has learned of a report that says bad weather will last until Feb. 19,' Bambang said, referring to high wind speeds and strong sea currents.

However, Bambang ensured that search and rescue (SAR) work to find the victims of the crash would continue once the weather conditions were conducive.

Bad weather had been persistent in the search area since Feb. 9, causing strong winds and high waves in the Karimata Strait, Central Kalimantan, Soelistyo said as quoted by Antara news agency.

The AirAsia flight, bound for Singapore from Surabaya, crashed into the Java Sea on Dec. 28, 2014, carrying 162 people on board, including one infant.(+++)