Basarnas: SAR team scouring Bekasi River for fisherman swept away by current

Personnel from Basarnas and joint SAR units have deployed teams to conduct an intensive search operation for a young man reported missing after being swept away by strong currents in the Bekasi River in Jatiasih District, Bekasi City, West Java. Jakarta SAR Office Head Desiana Kartika Bahari stated that the search operation is focused along the river’s course, dividing the area into several sectors to maximise scanning efforts. ‘Basarnas, alongside joint SAR units, is conducting search efforts using rubber boats along the Bekasi River up to a six-kilometre radius from the incident site to ensure more effective and widespread coverage,’ she said. Desiana explained that the incident occurred on Saturday, 23 May, around 4:00 PM WIB. The victim, identified as MIM (22), was attempting to cross the Bekasi River to go fishing. According to eyewitness accounts at the scene, the victim was seen floating approximately 50 metres from the initial crossing point before sinking and disappearing from view. To expedite the evacuation process, this humanitarian operation involves dozens of personnel from various cross-agency and potential SAR organisations. The joint SAR units involved on-site include Bekasi Emergency SAR Unit, Bekasi City Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Jatiasih Police Station, KORGAD Rescue, SAR MTA, Satpol PP, Semut Rescue, Baznas Bekasi, and AWIBB Rescue.