Disaster In Batang Masang River, West Sumatra, Residents Found Dead Attacked By Estuary Crocodiles While Diving

Residents are mourning at the victim's house allegedly being attacked by estuarine crocodiles in the pantang river, Thursday (7/3/2024). Antara/Ho-BPBD Agam.

AGAM - The Agam Regency Government (Pemkab) Joint Team, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), found a resident of Masang, Nagari or Tiku Limo Jorong Village, Tanjung Mutiara District, Nongki (30) in a state of death. The victim was attacked by estuarine crocodiles while looking for lokan fish in the Batang Masang River. Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Agam Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Ichwan Pratama Danda, said the victim was found about 2.5 kilometers from the scene on Thursday morning at around 08.30 WIB. "The victim was found dead, floating," he said. in Lubuk Basung, quoted from Antara, Thursday, March 7. The victim was found by a joint team from BPBD Agam, TNI, Polri, PMI Agam, Basarnas, nagari government, and the community. The victim's body was immediately evacuated and taken to the funeral home not far from the river location. "The plan is for the victim to be buried in the family grave not far from his house," said Ichwan Pratama. He added that the victim went to look for a loan with six friends in the Batang Masang River on Wednesday at around 14.30 WIB. When diving, the victim did not rise to the surface and the victim's friend saw Nongki being dragged by a crocodile 100 meters from the scene. "The victim's friend also saw the crocodile drag the victim the second time with a distance of 400 meters from the scene," he said. Ichwan said he received a report from residents at around 15.00 WIB and immediately dispatched a team to look for victims. After a search was carried out by the joint team, the victim was not found so the search for the victim was continued on Thursday (7/3) and the victim was found.'

"I urge residents to increase their vigilance while in the river, so as not to become victims of estuarine crocodile attacks," he said.