Crew Member Missing in Waters off Banyu Wedang, Buleleng

A crew member has been reported missing in the waters off Pasir Putih Beach, Banyu Wedang, Pejarakan Village, Gerokgak District, Buleleng Regency. The victim is believed to have fallen into the sea while attempting to return to his vessel in the early hours of Tuesday, 30 June 2026.

The victim has been identified as Rafles Tafa Kusuma, 17, a resident of Jalan Murai, Bubulak Sub-district, West Bogor District, Bogor City. He was a crew member of the Turmalin 384310.

According to information received by the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, the victim had disembarked from the Turmalin 384310 and travelled to Pasir Putih Banyu Wedang Beach using an orange speedboat at around 9:00 p.m. local time on Monday, 29 June 2026. At the time, the victim was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

Several hours later, the victim is believed to have attempted to return to the ship. However, by Tuesday afternoon he had not arrived. Residents later found the speedboat he had used stranded on the coast without any sign of the victim.

The victim’s colleagues conducted an independent search, but to no avail. The incident was subsequently reported to the search and rescue team.

Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, I Nyoman Sidakarya, stated that the report was received on Tuesday at 6:40 a.m. local time. Seven personnel from the Buleleng Search and Rescue Post were immediately dispatched to the location.

‘We received the information today at 6:40 a.m. local time and immediately dispatched seven personnel from the Buleleng Search and Rescue Post to the scene,’ said Sidakarya.

The initial search commenced at around 7:50 a.m. local time using one rubber boat. The team combed the waters for approximately three hours but found no sign of the victim.

The search resumed at 1:20 p.m. local time, deploying one rubber boat and one lifeboat. The team also conducted dives using snorkelling and diving equipment to a depth of approximately 10 metres, with underwater visibility of around two metres.

Simultaneously, a land search and rescue team scoured the shoreline of Pasir Putih Banyu Wedang Beach for any possibility that the victim had washed ashore. As the first day of the search concluded, the victim had not been found.

The search operation involved personnel from the Buleleng Search and Rescue Post, the Indonesian Navy, the Water and Air Police, the Sea Communication Watch Unit Observation Post, Gerokgak Police, the Buleleng Regional Disaster Management Agency, Gerokgak Civil Service Police Unit, local military and police community officers, as well as the victim’s family and colleagues.