Swimming in a Waterfall, Middle School Student Drowned and Lost in Manggarai

KUPANG - A tourist who is a junior high school student was reported missing and drowned while swimming at the Tiwu Pai Waterfall tourist site, Wontong Village, To'e Village, West Reok District, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The victim is known as Armedo W. Jeferson (13), a grade II SMP student who lives in the Fransiskus Xaverius Ruteng Putra Dormitory. The victim's drowning incident occurred on Sunday, January 11 when the victim was swimming around the waterfall area.

After receiving the report of the incident, the police officers together with the relevant elements immediately carried out the search efforts. Until Tuesday, January 13, the joint SAR team consisting of Basarnas, Polairud Manggarai Police, TNI, and people who have diving skills are still continuing to search for the victim.

Head of the Manggarai Police's Polairud, AKP Yosef Suyitno Soloilur, said the search process had a number of obstacles due to extreme weather around the scene of the incident.

"High rainfall, fast river currents, and murky water conditions make it quite difficult to sift and dive," said Yosef, quoted from Antara.

As the search continues, the police have also coordinated with the local village government to temporarily close the Tiwu Pai Waterfall tourist site. The closure was carried out to anticipate further risks, given that heavy rain has the potential to cause flooding with a fairly large water discharge.

In addition, officers and managers of tourist locations have been urged to put up a notice board regarding the dangerous conditions at the scene.

"We also ask for the support and prayers of the community so that the victim can be found immediately," said Yosef.