Four Tourists Dragged With Trenggalek Prigi Beach Waves, Three Happy One Missing

Officers evacuated tourists who were survivors after being dragged by the sea currents of Prigi Beach, Sunday (1/1/2023) (Between/HO - IST)

JAKARTA - Four local tourists from Kediri were dragged by the waves while swimming at Prigi Beach, Trenggalek, East Java, Sunday (1/1).

Three of the four tourists who were all teenagers were rescued by residents, but another one is still missing and is now in search of joint SAR officers who are on standby around the scene.

"It happened this morning at around 09.30 WIB. Currently joint officers are still carrying out search efforts using rubber boats," said Watulimo Police Chief AKP Suyono in Trenggalek, Sunday.

The holiday atmosphere on the first day of 2023 in the Prigi Bay area looks lively. Since the morning tourists have come to vacation in this coastal area, including on Prigi Beach.

The same thing was done by victims of Angga Jefri (missing SMK/victim), Faiz, Reno and Ridho (the three of them were students of SMK PGRI 1 Kediri/victim survived) who came in groups using two-wheeled vehicles from Kediri to Prigi Beach, Trenggalek.

Departing at around 08.30 WIB, Angga Cs arrived at the tourist area of Prigi Bay at around 09.30 WIB.

Angga, Faiz, Reno and Ridho immediately took the initiative to play water and swim, while some of their colleagues chose to play the sand on the beach while enjoying the atmosphere.

Suddenly the waves were big enough to roll over the bodies of these four teenagers and a number of other tourists. Angga cs's body was dragged by a fairly strong current. Due to lack of swimming, Angga, Faiz, Reno and Ridho were carried away to the middle.

Suddenly his friends who saw the incident screamed for help, forested with other tourists who were also hysterical.

A number of local residents and joint officers who were on standby not far from the location immediately came to provide assistance. "Officers around the location immediately ran to make rescue efforts. Three tourists were rescued, while the other has not been found," said Suyono.

The search until this news was written is still being carried out by the joint SAR team using rubber boats.

After the incident, officers tightened surveillance across the coastal area in Prigi Bay.

Officers also appealed to tourists to be vigilant, not even to swim in the middle which could endanger safety.

Because, said Suyono, the impact of extreme weather caused sea currents to be large enough and triggered large waves/hauls to the shore.

"We have advised you not to swim. Moreover, the current condition is the impact of bad weather. Apart from the joint officers, the relevant agencies have also deployed security officers on standby around the shoreline," he said.