River overflows in Cirebon, two women swept away

River overflows in Cirebon, two women swept away

Nana Rukmana, Cirebon, West Java

The Cipager River, Sumber district, overflowed on Wednesday
afternoon, sweeping away two women, one of whom survived, while
the other was still missing as of Thursday afternoon.

Dozens of people from a police and residents' search and
rescue team (SAR) were still seeking the missing woman as of
Thursday afternoon.

The woman saved in the incident was Ipah, 18, from Sumber
district. The SAR team is now focusing its search on Isah, 17,
another victim, in the estuary of the Cipager River in Jatimerta
subdistrict, some 15 kilometers north of Sumber district, a spot
where Isah and Ipah were initially swept away by the strong
current.

The river overflowed following torrential rain that had
pounded Sumber district since Tuesday.

"I suspect that Isah has drowned," said Adj. Second. Insp.
Andun Wiranta, who led the SAR team. Andun said that the team
would continue to search for her until she was found.

The incident began as Isah and Ipah washed clothes on the edge
of the Cipager River close to their neighborhood on Wednesday
afternoon. The weather was cloudy, a day after torrential rain
had pounded the area.

"It was drizzling as the two women did their washing. Suddenly
the river overflowed and the strong current swept them away,"
said Abdullah, a local resident and an eyewitness to the
incident.

Ipah was able to save herself by holding on to the roots of a
tree growing at the edge of the river, but it was a different
story for Isah.

She was quickly swept away by the strong current into the
middle of the 10-meter-wide river, and was unable to grab
anything to prevent herself from being dragged away by the strong
current.

Abdullah quickly ran toward Ipah, who was holding on to the
tree root. He later shouted to attract the attention of local
residents to help him. "They immediately flocked to the scene and
helped me to save Ipah," he said. Several residents reported the
incident to Cirebon Police, while others took the initiative to
search for Isah.

"After receiving reports from the local residents, I gathered
my subordinates and began to search for Isah," said Andun.

Flash floods often occur in Cirebon and its surrounding area,
and have often claimed lives. Deforestation, caused by illegal
logging, has often been blamed as a cause of the floods.

The government is carrying out reforestation in some forests
in West Java, but it takes time before the forest can establish
itself and serve as a water catchment for downstream regions that
are susceptible to flooding.

The most recent flash flood to hit the country occurred in
Bahorok, North Sumatra, last year.

The flood killed at least 157 people, including six foreign
tourists, while 82 others went missing. At least 400 homes, 35
hotels and tens of hectares of farmland were destroyed.