Hopefully Cemas Waiting For Children's Search To Be Dried By The Waters Of The Cigunung River

Photo via Antara

SUKABUMI - The joint SAR team continues to search for children who were swept away by the current of the Cigunung River, Sukabumi Regency, West Java since Wednesday, October 12 yesterday.

"Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) Sukabumi Regency deployed nine personnel, consisting of two staff and seven volunteers," said Sukabumi Regency PMI Public Relations staff Ariel Solehudin, Thursday, October 13.

In this SAR operation, PMI and other volunteers were under the control of the Sukabumi Post Basarnas. In its implementation, dozens of joint volunteers who were dispatched to the location conducted a sweep along the Cigunung River in Cisaat District, starting from around the point where the victim was first carried away.

From observations at the scene, the joint SAR team, in addition to searching for victims on behalf of Niko (7), residents of the Agrarian Complex, RT 12/04, Babakan Village, Cisaat District, in the Cigunung River, also combed a number of culverts, irrigation canals and ditches.

Not only around riverbanks, a number of volunteers also conducted sweeps in the middle of the river using rubber tires, some even looking for victims by diving.

As of 09.30 WIB, there were no signs of the victim's whereabouts. Allegedly, the child's body was tucked into rocks or into river branches and other waterways, such as culverts or irrigation.

"The search was carried out up to several kilometers from the point where the victim was swept away," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Binmas Cisaat Police, Iptu Duduh, added that in today's SAR operation the weather was favorable, it didn't rain and the river current was not too heavy. "It is hoped that the victim can be found soon," he added.

SAR operations were also carried out together with elements of the TNI, Polri and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Sukabumi Regency and assisted by the surrounding community.