Accompanied, A 20-year-old Youth Suddenly Disappeared While Washing Sacrificial Meat In The Citarum Bekasi River

Basarnas officers while searching for victims/ Photo: IST

BEKASI - Gugun Gunawan (20) drowned in the Citarum River, Pebayuran District, Bekasi Regency, West Java on Thursday, June 29. Ironically, the young man drowned while washing sacrificial meat.

The incident occurred when the victim was about to cross the Citarum River. Without realizing it, after arriving in the middle, the current of the Citarum River got heavier and then the victim's body was dragged by the current and drowned.

The incident was then reported to the Bekasi SAR Alert Unit. As of Thursday night, the joint SAR team is still searching for the victim's body.

"We have deployed rescue personnel from the Bekasi SAR Alert Unit to search for victims," said Rizky Dwianto, Coordinator of the Bekasi SAR Alert Unit to reporters, Thursday, June 29.

Rizky explained that the search effort was carried out by three SAR teams. The first team conducted a search by combing the Citarum River using rubber boats up to a radius of 2 KM from the scene.

"The second team conducted a visual search, combing the riverbanks by land up to a radius of 2 KM from the scene," he said.

Furthermore, the third team conducted a search below the surface using the Aqua Eye and Underwater Searching Device.

"It will be continued with the dive process if conditions allow," he said.

Until now, the joint SAR team is still searching for victims who have been lost in the swift water of the Citarum River. Meanwhile, the joint SAR elements deployed consisted of the Bekasi SAR Alert Unit, BPBD Kab.Bekasi, Pebayuran Police, Pebayuran Koramil and others.