Drowned student found after two-day search

JAKARTA: A joint search team found the body of a teenager on Sunday morning floating on Jembatan Besi River, Central Jakarta, two days after being swept away by a torrent of water in Jati Pinggir River along the West Flood Canal system in Petamburan, Central Jakarta.

The body of Randi Riansyah, a 17-year-old student at Joshua High School in Petamburan, was taken to his family's home. The youngest child of mother Ningrum and father Nasar was buried later on Sunday.

The two-day search involved the police, the national rescue and search team, a student outdoor activity group, the fire department and residents.

Randi, who was a resident of Gang Nasan, Petamburan, was kicking a soccer ball with his friend Rahmat on Friday, several hours after a heavy downpour.

According to Rahmat and other witnesses, Randi fell into the river after failing to retrieve the ball with a bamboo stick from the river's edge.

The search team said its efforts were complicated by the strong current caused by the heavy rain where muds and waste blocked their sight. -- JP