70-Year-Old Grandfather And Boy Helped Drift In North Sumatra's Notai River Found Dead

The joint SAR team evacuated two victims who were swept away in the Takai River, North Sumatra. (Between)

The joint SAR team evacuated two victims who were swept away in the Bunai River in Limau Manis Village, Tanjung Morawa District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra (North Sumatra).

Head of the Medan Class A Search and Rescue Office (Basarna) Hery Marantika said the two victims were found dead in different locations.

"After expanding the search area, the two victims named Suparman (70) and Andra Sanjaya (10) were found in different locations on Monday (11/8)," said Herry Marantika in an official statement received in Medan, Tuesday, as reported by Antara.

He explained that the joint team managed to find Suparman's body about 2.5 kilometers from the initial location of the incident at 10.45 WIB and Andra Sanjaya at 13.15 WIB 1.5 kilometers.

"The search is carried out using the river surface sweeping method using rubber boats up to a radius of five kilometers," he said.

He said the search operation was carried out by dividing the team into several sectors equipped with the necessary equipment.

The flood and vorticity areas, he said, are a priority for the joint team because they have the potential to become the points of two victims involved.

"The search for land along the riverbanks, as well as diving at points suspected of being the location of the victim are stuck," he said.

Based on the report received, the unfortunate incident began when Suparman wanted to help Andra Sanjaya who fell into the river

The incident, based on witness testimony, began when Syifa (12) and her sister Andra Sanjaya were looking for bamboo on the banks of the Butai River.

When Andra was about to wash her feet on the edge of the river, she slipped and fell into a river that made Suparman and Syifa who were at the location immediately try to help Andra.

But unfortunately, he said, Suparman, who wanted to help, was swept away by the current of the river with Andra.

"Syifa, who tried to help the two victims and screamed for help inviting local residents and immediately tried to search, but unfortunately the two victims were immediately lost in the river current which at the time of the river water discharge was overflowing," he said.

He said the incident information was then forwarded to the Deli Serdang BPBD and then reported to the Medan SAR Office to conduct a search operation.

"After the identification process, the two victims were immediately handed over to the family for burial. Our official SAR operation was closed after all the victims were found," he said.