Firefighters Rescue Sacrificial Cow Trapped in Mojokerto Septic Tank After Three-Hour Effort

A sacrificial cow fell into a septic tank in Dusun Ardilangu, Ngembeh Village, Dlanggu, Mojokerto. Firefighters spent over three hours rescuing the animal while it was still alive.

The rescue of Sutrisno’s (56) sacrificial cow involved over a dozen firefighters from Pos 1 Mojoanyar of the Mojokerto Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and volunteers. They used two tripod pulleys to extract the cow from the septic tank.

The narrow 1-metre diameter of the hole made it difficult for officers to secure ropes around the cow. Two firefighters had to descend to the base of the shaft to tie the animal.

“The narrow diameter of the hole made it difficult to secure the ropes around the cow. The ropes slipped several times as the animal weakened,” said Sukamto, Commander of Pos 1 Mojoanyar Fire Department under the Mojokerto Regency Disaster Management Agency, to reporters at the scene, according to detikJatim, Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

Rescuers raced against time as the cow weakened at the bottom of the 6-metre-deep tank. Firefighters occasionally activated blowers to increase oxygen levels inside the septic tank.

The rescue operation began at approximately 16:00 WIB and concluded at 19:20 WIB, as the ropes repeatedly slipped off the cow.

Moreover, firefighters and volunteers had to exert maximum effort to pull the cow from the septic tank’s opening, as its body was significantly larger than the hole. Upon reaching the surface, the animal was extremely weak.