12-Year-Old Boy Swept Away by Currents at Tabanan's Yeh Gangga Beach Remains Missing

The search for 12-year-old I Komang Sastra, from Banjar Jambe Baleran, who was swept away by currents at Yeh Gangga Beach in Tabanan Regency, Bali, has been intensified. As of the second day of the operation on Friday (29 May 2026), the joint SAR team has yet to locate the boy.

Denpasar Search and Rescue Office Chief I Nyoman Sidakarya stated the second-day SAR operation includes an expanded search area. “We are deploying maritime and land Search and Rescue Units (SRU) to scour the vicinity of the incident site,” he said in an official statement.

The incident occurred on Thursday (28 May) around 15:30 WITA when the boy and a friend went swimming at Yeh Gangga Beach. A large wave suddenly hit the boy, dragging him out to sea. His friend attempted to pull him to safety but was unable to hold on due to strong currents. The friend then reached the shore and sought local assistance.

Previous search efforts on Thursday night continued until 23:35 WITA, covering 1.5 kilometres west of the incident site. However, darkness and strong currents forced the operation to be temporarily halted before resuming the next morning.

Dozens of personnel, including Babinsa Sudimara and Tabanan District authorities, remain on standby at the scene. The victim’s family is also present at the shoreline, hoping for his safe recovery.

Residents and beachgoers are urged to remain vigilant about changing weather conditions and extreme wave activity along southern Bali’s coastline to prevent similar incidents.