Search for Toddler Swept Away in Surabaya, SAR Team Deploys Drones and Maneuvers Boat

The joint SAR team while using drones in search of toddlers was swept away and swept away in the Kali Makmur area of the Surabaya Royal Resident housing area. (ANTARA/Naufal Ammar Imaduddin.)

The joint SAR team used an unmanned aircraft (drone) to search for a toddler with the initials MR (3.5) who fell into a ditch and was dragged by the current in the Babatan area, Surabaya.

"We are focusing the use of drones in river areas filled with hyacinth, especially around the SMPN 34 bridge. The use of drones allows us to monitor from above, because this area is difficult to reach with eye-to-eye," said the Commander of the Surabaya SAR Office Basarnas Team, Eko Aprianto, at the Surabaya Royal Residence Housing Search Post, as quoted by ANTARA.

Eko explained that drone operators have been given instructions regarding the signs that must be considered in order to find victims.

"I have given certain indicators, such as if there is a collection of flies in an area, the operator is asked to focus on searching at that point," he said.

He added that drones are used to overcome obstacles in the form of a collection of hyacinth hyacinths that clog the river flow around the SMPN 34 Surabaya bridge.

"We used two drones from the East Java BPBD and one from the Surabaya Diskominfo to support the search," explained Eko.

In addition to drones, the SAR team also used other search methods, including relays and maneuvering techniques using rubber boats.

"The relay method is applied to ensure that each region, including those covered by a hyacinth, can be combed thoroughly. The team moves alternately from the search post to the SMPN 34 bridge. For the downstream area, the search is continued from the Royal bridge," explained Eko.

The rubber boat maneuvering technique is applied to create small waves around the search location.

"This maneuver aims to make if the victim is buried in mud, his body can be lifted to the surface," he added.

Eko also mentioned additional personnel on the third day of the search. Volunteers from various disaster organizations joined, bringing the total number of officers involved to around 70 people.

However, until 15.00 WIB, the search for five kilometers from the starting point of the victim's drift had not yielded any results.

"Until now there has been no sign of the victim's whereabouts," he concluded.