Hanyut SAR Volunteers In The Endikat River Of South Sumatra After Finding Missing Persons

The joint SAR team including BPBD personnel evacuated residents using ropes and tires when the flood hit Pamukan, Subang, West Java, Tuesday 9 February 2021. (ANTARA-Novrian A)

SUMSEL - A volunteer for the search and rescue team (SAR) Pagaralam in South Sumatra (Sumsel) disappeared by the flow of the Endikat River.

Head of the Preparedness and Logistics Division of the Pagaralam BPBD, Hapis Gumay, said the victim was a man with the initials AN (36), a resident of Pagaralam.

"AN was reported missing by the current two days ago, October 22, 2022 night, which is still being searched," he said when confirmed, quoted from Antara, Monday, October 24.

According to a report he pocketed, AN is a nature lover student in Pagaralam. The victim also served as a volunteer for the joint SAR operation team when a resident of Suka Cinta Village, North Dempo District, Pagaralam, with the initials PR (57) disappeared in the Endikat River.

AN conducted a search since eight days ago with a joint SAR operation team consisting of BPBD personnel, the National SAR Agency, the TNI and Polri, and the Arung Jeram Indonesia Federation Pagaralam.

PR was also found in Bandungan Wari, Lahat Regency, October 22, 2022 night. However, a few moments after SAR found the victim of PR, AN volunteers were reported missing.

An's starting point was reported missing while in the Endikat River, Tanjung Bay Village area, Kota Agung District, Lahat Regency.

Receiving this information, the joint SAR team immediately returned to trace the Endikat River using a rubber boat, with a distance of about five hours from the standby post.

"Debit aliran air sungai yang besar cukup menyulitkan proses pencarian korban AN ini," imbuhnya.

However, Gumay said, the joint SAR team will continue to search for the next few days, after the discovery of shoes that allegedly belonged to victims who were caught on the riverbank as clues.