BPBD Pariaman Is Looking For A 10-year-old Child Who Is Hanyut In Muara Sungai

Illustration of drowning (ANTARA)

PARIAMAN - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Pariaman City, West Sumatra, continues to search for Refan (10), a child who was reported to have washed away while bathing in the mouth of the Karang Aur river on Sunday afternoon. Until 19.30 WIB, the victim had not been found.

"We are still searching for victims," said Head of BPBD Pariaman, Azman, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 2.

Refan, a resident of Kampung Baru, Central Pariaman District, was reported to have bathed with nine of his friends at the mouth of the river. However, the condition of the estuary that is experiencing ups and downs makes the area more dangerous.

"Sea water is rising, so the depth of the estuary increases. Coupled with the dark day, the search becomes more difficult," said Azman. In addition, strong wind conditions around the location are also a challenge for the search team.

The BPBD team used a net that was stretched across the river to facilitate search. Until now, they are still trying hard to find the victim in the hope of finding him safe.

"We hope that the victim is found soon and can reunite with his family," added Azman.

This incident caught the attention of local residents who came to the location to witness the search. Some of them captured this incident via telephone cameras and shared it on social media.

Currently, the Pariaman area and its surroundings are often rained with moderate to heavy intensity. BPBD urges the public to increase vigilance, especially in the activities of children in the river.

"We ask residents to prohibit children from bathing in rivers, especially during bad weather, to avoid unwanted events," said Azman.

The search will continue until the victim is found, while prioritizing the safety of the team in the midst of unfavorable weather.