Minister Of Religion Yaqut Calls 8 Pilgrims Missing, 3 Dead, 1 In Search

Minister Of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/ Photo: IST

TANGERANG - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) noted that eight pilgrims from Indonesia were missing while performing the pilgrimage. The Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, said that out of the eight worshipers, only one person had not been found.

"Still (in search). So I say there are eight worshipers who were reported missing, seven have been found and another one has not been found yet," Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas told reporters at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Thursday, July 27.

Yaqut explained, although seven have been found, three of them have now died.

"Seven have been found. (But) three are missing, it is known to have died," he said.

Yaqut also said that his party together with the Saudi Arabian security authorities continued to search. Still, Yaqut said, the search would be stopped if Saudi Arabian authorities had stated that it was not found.

"We are still trying and coordinating with the authorities there, either the police or SAR there, to continue to search until they meet. The search will be stopped, until the Saudi Arabian authorities declare that the person concerned has not been found," he said.