IBRA spokesman still missing after accident<\/p>\n
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor<\/p>\n
The search continued on Saturday for Indonesian Bank
\nRestructuring Agency (IBRA) spokesman Raymond van Beekum who
\ndisappeared during a rafting excursion on Cisadane River on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
The rescue team focused their search on the section of the
\nriver between Bogor in West Java and Tangerang in Banten,
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
Van Beekum's wife, Agnes Metta, his parents and IBRA Chief
\nSyarifuddin Tumenggung also joined in the search.<\/p>\n
South Bogor Police deputy chief First Insp. Yogi said that
\nthere was very little chance that Van Beekum was still alive
\nafter a three-meter high wall of water knocked him off a rock in
\nthe river at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday.<\/p>\n
Two reporters also on the rafting trip -- Adinda of newsportal
\ndetikcom and Irfan of Radio NamLapanHa -- claimed that the
\nconditions of the river were still normal when they started out
\nfrom nearby Ciherang Pondok village.<\/p>\n
One of the seven rafts to be used in the trip was deflated, so
\nseveral of the passengers, who were reporters, climbed in to Van
\nBeekum's raft.<\/p>\n
Near the lengthy section of rapids called Jeram Panjang, a
\nwall of water suddenly hit the raft. Van Beekum, Leanika Tanjung
\nof Tempo weekly and Nuri of Rakyat Merdeka daily were tossed into
\nthe water.<\/p>\n
Wearing life vests, they managed to get back in to the raft.
\nVan Beekum was left, as he had reached a rock to stand on. But a
\nsecond wall of water pulled him back into the strong rapids
\nbefore he could get in to the raft.<\/p>\n
The co-founder of "Arus Liar" rafting group in Citarik River,
\nLody Korua, predicted that Van Beekum's body would be found
\nsomewhere along the riverbank or riverbed.<\/p>\n
Firmansyah, a member of Cisadane River sluice's management,
\nsaid that the water level on Friday afternoon had reached up to
\n135 centimeters above normal levels. As of Saturday afternoon,
\nthe water level had gone back to normal, at 50 cm.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ibra-spokesman-still-missing-after-accident-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}