PMI Deploys 7 Personnel to Search for Drowning Victims in the Cimandiri River

PMI personnel from Sukabumi Regency conducted a joint sweep of a number of volunteers and SAR personnel during the search and rescue operation for two victims drowned in the Cimandiri River (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) personnel from Sukabumi Regency were deployed to assist and join the joint SAR team in the search and rescue operation for two girls who drowned in the Cimandiri River, Sukabumi Regency, West Java.

"We dispatched seven personnel to the location of the disaster, to be precise in Tegaldatar Village, Cibatu Village, Cikembar District to assist other SAR teams who had previously conducted a search for this SAR operation," said PMI Sukabumi District Hondo Suwito in Sukabumi on Saturday (20/5).

According to Hondo, apart from PMI Sukabumi Regency personnel, they brought a number of first aid kits, body bags, life jackets, and double cabin rescue vehicles.

At the scene of the incident, PMI personnel who were assigned to directly coordinate with currently Basarnas personnel, the Sukabumi Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and elements of the TNI and Polri regarding technical SAR operations.

PMI volunteers then conducted a sweep on the banks of the Cimandiri River or around the location of the drowning of two girls known as Afika Lintang Zulfana (8) and Nisrina Rifdatun Nusabah (8) whose homes are not far from the scene of the incident.

"We are deploying personnel to join dozens of SAR personnel and volunteers as a form of humanitarian action, because PMI always adheres to its commitment to help others in need," he added, quoting Antara.

On the other hand, the SAR operation on the first day of searching for the two victims who drowned in the Cimandiri River bore fruit. One victim on behalf of Afika Lintang Zulfana was found dead whose body was floating in a radius of 100 meters from the incident location at 16.15 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

The joint SAR team immediately evacuated the tiny body of this girl who was in grade 2 of this elementary school to be taken to a funeral home not far from the scene of the incident. Thus, there is still one more victim who has not been found and the SAR operation will continue on Sunday (21/5).