3000 Climbers Perform Flag Ceremony On Mount Bawakaraeng Makassar On August 17

Flag Ceremony on Mount Bawakaraeng (Doc. Makassar Basarnas)

MAKASSAR - Apart from the field, flag ceremonies to commemorate Indonesia's independence can be carried out in unusual places, such as mountains. The Makassar Basarnas noted that 3,380 climbers performed the ceremony on Mount Bawakaraeng, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, last August 17.

"The total number of climbers per day is 3,380 people, and 28 climbers were evacuated by the Joint SAR Team during the ongoing Red and White SAR alert," said Head of Operations and Alert Section of the Makassar Basarnas Office Andi Sultan, Sunday, August 18.

He explained that the red and white SAR alert was carried out by a joint team by opening a post at the foot of Mount Bawakaraeng from Friday, August 16 to Sunday, August 18, 2024.

This alert, he said, was to anticipate a surge in climbers who wanted to celebrate the anniversary of Independence Day on August 17 which coincided with holidays.

"Of the 28 people who were evacuated, there were 15 people who experienced hypothermia. The rest, suffered injuries to the leg," he said.

According to him, the joint team from the start placed posts and personnel to anticipate unwanted things, such as injuries or hypothermia considering that not all climbers have a fit physique.

"This has indeed become one of our concerns, because the weather conditions on the mountain are very cold and some climbers who come are climbers who have just set foot on Mount Bawakaraeng," said Sultan.

However, the SAR Alert activity has been closed today, because all climbers who have attended the flag ceremony since yesterday have started to descend from various routes.

"Because climbers have started to come down from Mount Bawakaraeng, we have closed the Red and White Special SAR Alert. We are very grateful to all potential SARs who help SAR alerts until they run smoothly," he said.

His party advised climbers to prepare themselves and their needs at other times when they were about to climb Mount Bawakaraeng to prevent accidents or obstacles while climbing.*