Six Ships Deployed To Find Drowned Victem at Sasak Beach

Simpang Empat, (Antaranews Sumbar) - Six ships and boats were deployed to search for a victim, who drowned on Muaro Sasak Beach, West Pasaman District, West Sumatra Province this morning.

"The search for the victim, Alfa, 10, resumed this morning. This is the third day since Monday (June 18)," Pasaman Sector Police Chief Police Commissioner Adjutant Muzhendra stated here on Wednesday.

According to Muzhendra, the equipment used is one patrol boat of the West Pasaman Police, one patrol unit of the West Pasaman Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), and one rubber boat of Bhayangkara Samapta (Sabhara) of the West Pasaman Police.

Another rubber boat has been provided by the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency and two traditional boats owned by the local community.

"The joint team, including the Indonesian Military and Basarnas, will be back along the Muaro Sasak coast, and the local community will also conduct a search," he explained.

Muzhendra remarked that several joint teams comprising one each from the BNPB, BPBD of West Pasaman, Pasaman Police, Navy Post, Sabhara of West Pasaman, and Water Police of West Pasaman as well as the Sasak fishing communities had been deployed to find the victim.

Earlier, 10-year-old Alfa, a resident of Padang Halaban Sasak, had drowned, and the body was washed away by the waves at Muaro Sasak Beach while enjoying a bath during the Lebaran holiday, on Monday (June 18) afternoon.

The incident occurred when the victim was swimming and playing in the waves on Muaro Sasak beach along with his friends, who were not monitored by their parents.

The victim bathed with his friends, identified as 13-year-old Ikram and Dio and Devin, both aged 10. While swimming, the friends saw the victim being pulled into the middle of the sea.

When the victim was being washed away by the waves of the sea and immediately disappeared, his friend tried to get help from other visitors but to no avail.

The Muaro Sasak beach, lined up with thousand trees, has become a popular destination for visitors to enjoy the Lebaran holidays.

Thousands of visitors thronged the Sasak beach during this year`s long holidays. People have been urged to keep an eye on their children while spending holidays in public. (*)