Truck Driver Who Was Dragged By Merapi Lava Flood Has Not Been Found

Magelang Police Chief AKBP Mochammad Sajarod Zakun/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

MAGELANG - The truck driver suspected of being dragged by the lava flood of Mount Merapi in the Bebeng River, Magelang Regency, Central Java has not been found.

Lava flooding in the Bebeng River on Wednesday, December 1, caused a truck and its driver, Hendri Susanto, to be suspected of being swept away.

"As of this afternoon, they have not been found," said Magelang Police Chief AKBP Mochammad Sajarod Zakun, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 2.

When the incident happened, the driver intended to load sand material in the Bebeng River, suddenly a flood of lava occurred so that the truck was swept away by the water current, while the driver intended to save himself, but it is suspected that he was swept away, he said.

He said that from Thursday morning until late afternoon a search was carried out, but the truck driver from Pagersari, Bergas District, Semarang Regency had not been found.

The search involved elements of the TNI, Polri, Basarnas, volunteers caring for Merapi, and other agencies, and the search even involved sniffer dogs.

"Due to the heavy flood currents, the trucks were able to destroy. At this time, what has just been found is the engine, tires and battery of the truck. The wooden tub has turned into shards," he said.

Based on the witness' testimony, he said, the truck was about to load the sand, then a rapid flood of lava came so that the driver did not have time to save himself.