4 Days Missing, Basarnas Expands Search In Bengkulu's Anniversary River

BENGKULU - Bengkulu National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) expanded the area of the fourth day of search process against WA (51) which was swept away by the current in the Ketahun River, Tanjung Kemenyan Village, Napal Putih District, North Bengkulu Regency. "Based on the search process that has been carried out over the past three days and we have not received a sign of the victim's whereabouts so that today we are expanding the search area," said Head of Basarnas Bengkulu M. Arafah in Bengkulu City, Sunday. He mentioned that the joint members were divided into two teams consisting of conducting a 4-kilometer search using 2 Long Craft Boats or Karet Boats belonging to Basarnas towards the estuary. Then the second team conducted a search on land with the same area as the rubber boat team and headed towards the estuary. In addition, said Arafah, the joint team also expanded the search area by disseminating information to the community along the coast of the river flow and if they found signs, it was hoped that the victim would report immediately. Jeki Arisman team commander said that the search process had been carried out optimally, however there were several obstacles, namely irregular river contours, heavy river currents and erratic weather. Previously, WA disappearance in the Keta River that year when the victim and two other friends, namely S and E, went fishing on Wednesday 1 March at 16.00 WIB.

At around 23.00 WIB, one of his friends gave news that WA was lost while crossing the river by swimming. For the tools used, namely a set of diving devices, aqua eyes or a device to see in water, a set of water SAR equipment, rubber boats, a set of medical equipment, a set of USD, two sets of submarines, navigation pal and communication pal.