11-year-old Boy Drifting In North Sumatra's Balawan River Found Dead

JAKARTA - The Medan Basarnas together with the joint SAR team evacuated the body of an 11-year-old boy who was swept away in the current of the Belawan River, Deliserdang Regency, North Sumatra (North Sumatra).

Head of the Medan Basarnas Office, Hery Marantika, said the victim was a woman from Baru Village, Pancurbatu District, Deliserdang Regency.

"The victim was found dead Monday (June 2) at 22.00 WIB," said Hery Marantika in an official statement received in Medan, Tuesday.

He said the victim was found 10 meters from the location where he was suspected of being swept away by the river current.

Hery explained that the fateful incident based on the report received began when the victim on Monday (2/6) at 14.30 WIB with his friends was swimming in the Kabero Nature Bath which was in the Belawan river, which is located not far from the victim's house.

The victim, who was swimming a lot, he said, an hour later the victim was suddenly swept away by the current of the river which resulted in the person concerned not being seen or missing.

He said residents and village officials who knew about the incident continued to search for victims. However, the victim who had not been found finally reported the incident to the Medan Basarnas.

In the search operation, he said the team conducted a river search until late at night using the equipment needed at the initial location in question, which was stated to have been swept away by the current.

"The search is still carried out until the evening, which focuses on the initial location where the victim was swept away, until finally the victim was detected underwater using aqua eyes. At around 22:00 WIB the victim was finally successfully evacuated about 10 meters from the initial location the victim was swept away," he said.

After being found and evacuated, he said the joint team immediately handed over the victim to the family for further action.

"Furthermore, the victim was immediately handed over to the family," he said.