Algerian National Soaks in Lake Sunter Twice for 'Ritual' Before Being Evacuated

An Algerian national with the initials BZ (30) soaked in Lake Sunter, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, claiming it was a ‘ritual’. The foreign national had in fact entered the lake twice before being evacuated by fire and rescue personnel.

“The foreign national (Algerian) was carrying out a ritual of his belief by soaking in the water, which began in the afternoon and was secured by the Social Service,” said Gatot Sulaeman, Head of Operations for the North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Fire and Rescue Sub-Department, when contacted on Monday (31/8/2026).

After first soaking in Lake Sunter on Sunday (30/8), the Algerian national was evacuated by the social service. In the evening, the man repeated the act until he was evacuated by fire and rescue officers.

“The foreign national then carried out the act again in the evening until 21.41 WIB, when fire and rescue personnel managed to evacuate him safely,” he said.

Six personnel were deployed. The evacuation process took around three hours before the man was handed over to immigration authorities.

“The foreign national was successfully evacuated in a safe condition and has been taken by Immigration,” he said.

The evacuation moment was shown in a video received by detikcom from fire and rescue officers. In the video, the man is seen soaking in Lake Sunter.

In the video clip, the evacuation took place on Sunday (30/8) evening. Fire and rescue officers can be heard communicating with the foreign national during the evacuation.

“This is not a matter of time, this is not a matter of midnight. This is a matter of rules. This lake is not allowed for swimming,” a fire and rescue officer said in English.

The officer asked the Algerian national to comply with the rules. In their conversation, the topic of ritual was also discussed.

“So, if you respect our rules, you have to come with us. Right now, you have to come with us,” the fire and rescue officer said.

“No, we can talk about this, about your religion or ritual, somewhere else, not on the edge of this lake,” he continued.