17 August Ceremony Held at Sea off Baron Beach Despite Large Waves

Sat Linmas Rescue Istimewa Wilayah II Baron held a ceremony for Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day in the sea off Baron Beach, Tanjungsari, Gunungkidul. During the raising of the Red and White flag, large waves occurred, preventing some participants from reaching the flag-raising site, but the ceremony nevertheless proceeded smoothly.

Thousands of people gathered on the shore of Baron Beach to take part in the 81st Independence Day ceremony. As the moment of the Proclamation arrived at 10.00 WIB, the Baron SAR post sounded a siren, followed by car horns and sirens.

Several jet skis and jukung boats steered by SAR members then headed out to sea. Dozens of SAR members and ceremony participants swam from the shore towards the site where the Red and White flag was to be raised.

Upon reaching the location, three people carried out the flag-raising in the middle of the sea. A solemn atmosphere accompanied the procession of raising the Red and White flag in the waters off Baron Beach.

Marjono, Coordinator of Sat Linmas Rescue Istimewa Wilayah II Baron Beach, said that high waves occurred during the flag-raising ceremony for Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day in the waters off Baron Beach. However, the wave height was not as high as the previous week.

“Alhamdulillah, we need to convey that the flag-raising ceremony at sea for the 81st Independence Day was hampered by large waves,” he told reporters at Baron Beach on Monday (17/8/2026).

The wave height during the flag-raising reached two to three metres. Some participants failed to reach the flag-raising site.

“Yes, earlier there were several participants who did not reach the flag-raising site and eventually returned to the shore of Baron Beach,” he said.

Marjono explained that participants had to swim about 150 metres from the edge of Baron Beach. Nevertheless, he said the flag-raising proceeded smoothly.

“Alhamdulillah, the raising of the Red and White flag in the middle of the sea proceeded smoothly,” he said.

Bagas Senoadji, Head of the Yogyakarta Special Region Civil Service Police Unit, added that the ceremony participants included water police, the naval base, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Basarnas and school students.

“The number of ceremony participants today was approximately 1,000 people,” he said.

The ceremony began with a flag-raising on the beach first, followed by the raising of the Red and White flag in the middle of the waters.