Farmer Swept Away While Crossing River After Working in the Fields in Aceh

A joint search and rescue team is searching for a farmer who was reported missing after being swept away by a river current in Sabet Jaya village, Lamno sub-district, Aceh Jaya regency.

Ibnu Harris Al Hussain, head of the Banda Aceh Class A Search and Rescue Office, said in Banda Aceh on Tuesday that the victim was Ibrahim, a 57-year-old resident of Sabet village, Lamno sub-district, Aceh Jaya regency.

“He was reported missing after being swept away while crossing the river on his way home from his garden on Sunday (18 October) afternoon. The search is still under way, involving a joint team and local residents,” he said.

Al Hussain said the incident began when Ibrahim and his child were crossing the river on their way back from the garden. Heavy rain was falling upstream at the time.

“The victim’s child managed to save themselves and then reported the incident to local residents. The Banda Aceh search and rescue office received information about the missing person from Lamno police,” he said.

Following the report, the Banda Aceh search and rescue office dispatched a search and rescue team. The search began on Monday (19 October), with the team divided into two groups.

The victim was not found, so the search was temporarily suspended. It resumed on Tuesday (20 October), again with two teams: the first searched 3.5 kilometres of river using an inflatable boat, while the second covered 3.5 kilometres of land downstream.

“Alongside personnel from the Banda Aceh search and rescue office, the search involves Indonesian Military personnel from the Lamno Military Sub-district Command, Lamno police officers, staff from the Aceh Jaya Disaster Management Agency, the Aceh Jaya Search and Rescue Task Force, and local residents,” Al Hussain said.