Joint SAR Team Searches for Man Swept Away in Merauke's Maro River

A joint SAR team comprising personnel from the Merauke SAR Office, Kodaeral XI, and the Merauke Police Water Unit, assisted by the crew of the KM Lyly 03, is conducting an intensive search for a resident named Abdul Rozak (29) who was reported to have fallen and been swept away by the current of the Maro River in Merauke, South Papua. The Head of Merauke SAR, Rudi, explained that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday (6/7/2026) at around 01.30 WIT. Based on the report received, the victim fell whilst heading to a toilet belonging to a resident named Hengki, located on the banks of the Maro River. “The victim was last seen wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and shorts,” Rudi stated in Merauke on Monday. Immediately after receiving the report, the joint SAR team of 10 personnel was deployed to the scene. The location is at coordinates 8°27’49.45”S - 140°25’14.94”E, approximately 6.30 km north of the Merauke SAR Office, with an estimated travel time of 25 minutes. In this search operation, the SAR team deployed various advanced equipment to maximise the sweep, both on the water’s surface and from the air. Regarding field conditions, the weather in the search area was reported as sunny and cloudy with localised rain. Wind movement was observed from the east to southeast at speeds ranging from 8 to 25 km/h. Rudi also requested the active participation of local residents and water transport users. “The SAR team urges the public and ship crews passing around the Maro River to immediately inform officers if they see any signs of the victim’s whereabouts,” he concluded.