BPBD Agam Deploys 85 Personnel To Search For Paragliding Pilots Who Have Lost Contact Since Friday

A joint team from the Agam Regency Government prepares to search for victims who lost contact while flying paragliding (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Agam Regency, West Sumatra said 85 people were deployed to look for a paragliding pilot from Pekanbaru, Riau who lost the box in Jorong Buian Lawang, Nagari Lawang, Matur District, last Friday at around 11.00 WIB.

"These 85 officers are looking for the whereabouts of Galih Gani Irawan (16), a resident of the Rajawali V Complex at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base Pekanbaru, who lost contact on Friday (6/5) afternoon and this team is looking for the victim's whereabouts on Saturday," said the Acting Head of BPBD. Agam Rinaldi was quoted from Antara, Saturday.

He said that the 85 people came from BPBD Agam, four people, DPMN Agam three people, PMI Agam eight people, the District Government Matur five people.

In addition, the Basarnas Pos Regency of Limapuluh Kota has 10 people, Kodim 0304 Agam five people, Polres Agam eight people, KSB Balingka two people, L'Towing five people, Bukittinggi Rescue Team (BRT) Bukittinggi four people, Satpol PP two people, nagari government four people and others.

"The joint team is looking for locations around forest areas in Palembayan, Tanjungraya and Matur," he said.

He added that the search was carried out by exploring the forest area on Saturday morning.

On Saturday morning, the area was shrouded in fog and drizzle.

"We have been trying to find the whereabouts of the victim on Friday (6/5) night," he said.

He said the victim and other visitors flew from Puncak Lawang Tourism Object, Matur District on Friday at around 11.00 WIB.

At that time, the victim was enjoying the beauty of Lake Maninjau from the air and around 15.00 WIB, the victim lost contact with the supervisory team in Puncak Lawang.

The supervisory team tried to contact, but to no avail, so they reported it to the Agam BPBD Disaster Management Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) at around 19.00 WIB.

"It is estimated that the victim could not see the place of descent or landing due to thick fog engulfing the area," he said.