SAR Team Searches For Children Who Drowned In Konawe Agricultural Irrigation Channel

The Kendari Basarnas SAR Team was preparing to find victims. (ANTARA/HO-Basarnas Kendari)

The Kendari Basarnas SAR Team conducted a search operation for a nine-year-old child who was reported to have drowned in an agricultural irrigation canal in Puuwonua Village, Konaweha District, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province (Sultra).

Head of Basarnas Kendari Aminuddin PS said the child named Fatima, who was reported drowned by local residents, at 08.27 WITA.

"We received information that a child drowned in an agricultural irrigation canal in Puuwonua Village this morning," Aminuddin said when contacted in Kendari, Antara, Monday, February 7.

He said that based on this information, his party then dispatched the Kendari Basarnas Rescue Team to the location to provide SAR assistance. "With a distance of that location with the Kendari Basarnas Office about 62 kilometers," he said.

Aminuddin revealed that when he arrived at the location, the team immediately conducted a search with cloudy weather conditions and had the potential for light to moderate rain.

He explained that in the search for children who drowned in the irrigation canal, several elements were involved, including the Operations and Rescue Staff of the Kendari Basarnas, the Konawe BPBD, the local community, and the victim's family.

"The tools used are rescue cars, ambulances, trail motors, rubber boats, thermal drones, aquaeyes, medical SAR equipment, evacuation SAR equipment, communication equipment, and other safety support equipment," Aminuddin explained.

He added that the sinking of the child began when he went out playing with two of his colleagues on a bicycle, on Sunday (9/2) at around 09.00 WITA. At around 15.30 WITA, the victim separated from the two colleagues and had not returned until the next day.

"When the family conducted a search, it was found that the victim's bicycle was parked on the edge of the agricultural irrigation canal, so it is estimated that the victim drowned in the irrigation canal," Aminuddin added.