West Papua TVRI Presenter Trapped in a Waterfall, SAR Team Performs Search

Manokwari SAR team held a search operation for Yanto Idorway, a presenter of TVRI West Papua, who was allegedly swept away by the river in the Memti Waterfall area, Sisrang Village, Pegunungan Arfak Regency, Saturday, July 18.

Head of the Manokwari SAR Office Yefri Sabaruddin said the report of the incident was received at 20.30 WIT from the Head of Intelligence of the Arfak Mountains Police.

"The suspected incident occurred at around 14.00 WIT. We will optimize the search for the victim," he said through a statement in Manokwari, Saturday, quoted by Antara.

Based on the report, he said, the victim visited the waterfall with two colleagues. When he was about to cross the river, the victim slipped and was swept away by the current. His two colleagues tried to help independently, but the victim was not found.

The SAR team departed from Manokwari to the location of the incident at 20.52 WIT using one rescue car with an estimated land travel time of around five to six hours. Upon arrival, the team first coordinated with the local police.

"Our team will coordinate with local SAR potential elements to prepare a search operation plan which is scheduled to start on Sunday (July 19)," he said.

He said that the search operation for the West Papua TVRI presenter would involve joint personnel from the Manokwari SAR Office and the Arfak Mountains Police with one thermal drone, five sets of communication equipment, water SAR equipment, and others.

The team faces a number of challenges in the field, including long distances and mobilization processes carried out at night with weather conditions in the operating area expected to be cloudy.

"We will convey the development of operations periodically according to the results in the field," said Yefri.