A Resident Who Drowned in East Kalimantan's Mahakam River Was Found Dead 70 Meters From the Scene

The SAR team during the evacuation of the bodies of the victims who drowned in the Mahakam River, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Friday (14/11). ANTARA/HO-SAR Samarinda

JAKARTA - The Search and Rescue (SAR) team successfully recovered the body of Muhammad Rian (20), a resident of Sungai Keledang Village, who fell and drowned in the Mahakam River, Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

"On the second day of the search, the team followed the river channel two kilometers downstream, as per the operational plan. The search effort was carried out in an integrated manner using water equipment and other supporting tools," said Samarinda SAR Post Coordinator Mardi Sianturi in Samarinda on Friday, as reported by Antara.

During the search, the joint SAR team from various agencies found the victim in a deceased condition approximately 70 meters from the scene. He was immediately evacuated to the funeral home to be handed over to his family.

Previously, a witness had seen the victim walking toward the Senupa speedboat mooring on the banks of the Mahakam River in the Bung Tomo area of ​​Jalan Bung Tomo, Samarinda Seberang, on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Meanwhile, another witness who works as a security guard in the area saw a pair of sandals and a cell phone lying on the ground. Search and rescue operations were conducted at the speedboat mooring on Wednesday night, but found no one there.

Local residents only learned of the victim's disappearance after the victim's family became concerned because he hadn't returned home by midnight.

According to information from several witnesses, it was believed that the sandals and cell phone found at the Senupa speedboat mooring belonged to the victim, and the victim is believed to have fallen and drowned in the Mahakam River.

He stated that the second day of the SAR operation proceeded smoothly, supported by cloudy weather conditions without rain. The equipment used included a rescue carrier, a rubber boat belonging to Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), a speedboat and rubber boat belonging to the Regional Disdamkar (Regional Disdamkar) and the Samarinda Regional Disdamkar (Regional Disdamkar), diving equipment, water SAR equipment, communications, and medical equipment.

"Meanwhile, the joint SAR team, which included the Samarinda SAR Post, the East Kalimantan Regional Police Water Police, the Samarinda City BPBD, the Samarinda City Disdamkar, volunteers, and the victim's family, participated in the search," he said.