Crocodile Preying on Boy in Sangatta River Successfully Captured by BPBD Team

A crocodile can be seen from the Sangatta River which is strongly suspected of swallowing a 10-year-old child was pulled ashore on Sunday, April 27 in the morning. (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Kutim)

JAKARTA - A joint team from the East Kutai Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) together with a number of volunteers managed to catch a crocodile in the Sangatta River on Sunday morning, April 27, at around 00.00 WITA.

The arrests were made around the scene of the disappearance of a child, who was suspected of being the victim of the crocodile attack.

According to the Head of BPBD East Kutai, M. Idris Syam, the crocodile that was heavily arrested is suspected of being an animal that pounced on Fiki (10), a boy who was previously reported missing while swimming in the Sangatta River on Saturday afternoon, April 26.

This arrest operation involved various elements, ranging from Basarnas personnel, East Kutim BPBD, RAPI, ORARI, to crocodile handlers from Laskar Kebangkitan Kutai (LKK), as well as a number of other volunteers. Crocodiles were successfully secured not far from the scene, precisely in RT 34, Kampung Kajang, Singa Geweh Village, East Kutai.

The moment of the arrest was greeted with small cheers from residents who witnessed the big crocodile being brought ashore using two engine boats for further evacuation.

Before the crocodile was caught, the joint team first conducted a sweep along the Sangatta River, after receiving information from two eyewitnesses, Samariah (22) and Tika (14). The two witnesses reported that the victim was seen swimming with six of his friends since 15.00 WITA.

The tragedy occurred around 16.20 WITA, when Fiki tried to grab bamboo on the banks of the river. That's when a crocodile appeared and dragged the victim into the water. Six friends of Fiki Iki (15), Atung (15), Niki (11), Fuji (12), kiosk, and Mamat managed to survive and become witnesses to the terrible incident.

BPBD East Kutai also appealed to all communities around the Sangatta River to increase vigilance and avoid activities along the river for mutual safety.