Rescue Team Finds Victim Who Fell from Pompong Boat in Rupat Strait, Dumai

Thu, 21 May 2026, 17:13 WIB | By Irvan Sihombing | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Social Policy

A joint search and rescue (SAR) team has successfully located the body of the victim who fell from a pompong boat in the waters of Rupat Strait, Dumai City, Riau. The victim was found in a deceased condition on the third day of the search, Thursday (21 May 2026).

Head of the Pekanbaru Basarnas Office for Search and Rescue (Class A), Budi Cahyadi, confirmed that the victim was identified as Agustinus Laia (30), a man from Tuhemberua, Lolomatua District, South Nias Regency.

“The victim was found at 11:52 WIB in a deceased state. The discovery location is at coordinates 1°42’45” N 101°38’44” E, about 6 Nautical Miles (NM) northeast of the initial search location (LKP),” he said in an official statement on Thursday (21 May).

The incident began on Tuesday (19 May) around 11:10 WIB. At that time, Pekanbaru SAR received a report from Lanal Dumai member, Serma Khadirin, about a passenger on a pompong boat who was thought to have fallen into the sea.

The incident occurred as the vessel was moving from Wilmar Pelintung Port to Pelindo Dumai Port. In response to the report, USS Dumai Rescue Team along with other combined SAR elements were deployed to the location to carry out a sweep.

The search lasted three consecutive days, employing a parallel sweep pattern around the Rupat Strait waters. The teams involved included Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy (Lanal Dumai), the Police, and other related agencies.

After the body was located, Agustinus Laia’s body was immediately evacuated by the joint team and taken to RSUD Dumai for further processing. With the victim found, Basarnas proposed closing the search operation.

“The SAR operation is proposed to be closed at 12:45 WIB. All involved units have returned to their respective commands. We thank all parties for their synergy in this operation,” added Budi.

Concluding his remarks, Budi Cahyadi urged the public and sea transport users to always prioritise safety and to wear life jackets when engaging in activities in the waters to prevent similar accidents. (RK/I-1)

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