SAR Joint Team Looking for Students of SMKN 5 Sarmi Drowned at Bonggo Beach

SARMI - The head of the Sarmi Police, AKBP Ruben Palayukan, said that the joint SAR team consisting of Bonggo Police personnel and the community is still looking for Seldjun Oktaria, a student at SMKN 5 Sarmi who drowned while swimming at Bonggo Beach.

The victim, Oktaria, was reported to have drowned on Thursday, January 1, 2026 while swimming with friends at Tarontah Beach or Muara Kali Dormas, Taronta Village, Bonggo District, Sarmi Regency.

"From the report it was revealed that the victim who lived in Kampung Gwin Jaya (SP 4) Bonggo had shouted for help," said Sarmi Police Chief AKBP Ruben Falayukan as reported by ANTARA, Sunday, January 4.

Before drowning and disappearing, said Ruben, one of the victim's friends, Adli Kawena, had tried to save him and had held the victim, but when he was about to take him to the edge, suddenly the waves hit again causing his grip to slip.

Adli tried to help by diving to search, but the victim was no longer visible.

"We have coordinated with the Sarmi Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), as well as the local community to continue the search intensively.

"The conditions in the waters are currently rough and at the estuary there is a strong current so the personnel must be alert," said AKBP Ruben.