Yedda's Grandfather Is Still Wanted By Officers After Kelotok Was Swept Away By The Current In The Cempaga River, Central Kalimantan

Police and residents show the location of the missing residents in Luwuk Bunter Village, Cempaga District (ANTARA/HO-Dok. Pribadi)

KALTENG - Grandfather named Yedda S Yohanes (67), a resident of Luwuk Bunter Village, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan was declared missing after the kelotok (motorized boat on the river) he was riding was carried away by the current and drowned in the Cempaga River, this morning.

"Kelotok has been found, while the victim is still being searched. Hopefully they will be found soon," said Kurnain, Head of Luwuk Bunter Village, Cempaga District, as reported by Antara, Thursday, November 18.

Prior to the incident, the victim along with two other residents, namely Amat (30) and Nahrawi (55), were crossing the river. At that time Amat was in the front, Nahrawi in the middle and the victim at the stern.

While in the middle of the river, their kelotok passed another boat. To avoid the waves of other ships, the direction of the kelotok is slightly deflected. But it turns out that the power of the engine is not able to make the kelotok carried away.

The current around the riverbank, which at that time was quite swift, continued to carry their kelotok towards a barge that was moored. Before the kelotok hit the barge and sank, the three residents jumped into the river.

Amat and Nahrawi escaped by holding on to the barge's anchor chain. Unfortunately, the victim, Yedda S Yohanes, didn't have time to swim to the shore and it was suspected that he had drowned under the barge.

Residents who knew about the incident immediately helped Amat and Nahrawi. Residents are also looking for victims who allegedly drowned after the incident but the victims have not been found.

The incident was immediately reported to the police. Not long after, officers arrived at the scene to look for victims. "Two survivors have been evacuated by residents. Residents who are missing are still being sought by residents and officers," said Uji, a local resident.

Currently, the community and a joint team are conducting searches by combing the river around the scene. The police also asked a number of witnesses regarding the chronology of the incident.