SAR team searches for three missing tourists at Karangpapak Beach, Garut
A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team is conducting a search for three tourists who went missing after being swept away by waves while swimming at Karangpapak Beach, Cikelet District, Garut Regency, West Java, on Tuesday.
Head of the Water and Air Police Unit (Satpolairud) of Garut Police, First Inspector Aep Saprudin, confirmed that three tourists are still being searched for by the joint SAR team, which is combing the shoreline and the open sea.
“We, together with relevant elements, are continuing to search for the three tourists who were swept away by the current,” said Aep.
He identified the three missing tourists as Ardi M Nababan (27), a resident of Sumedang Regency; Irfan Nababan (18), a resident of Cisurupan District, Garut Regency; and Murdani Siahaan (18), a resident of Southeast Aceh.
He said that after receiving a report of the maritime accident, his team, together with members of Cikelet Police Station, Balawista lifeguards, fishermen, local residents, and other volunteers, immediately mobilised to conduct a search at Karangpapak Beach.
He explained that the incident began when the victims, who had just arrived at Karangpapak Beach, headed straight to the shore to swim at around 11.00 a.m. Western Indonesia Time on Tuesday.
A short while later, one of the tourists, Ardi M Nababan, was carried away by a wave current that pulled him out to sea. The other two victims, upon seeing what had happened, attempted to rescue him.
However, the rescue attempt instead caused both of them to be swept away by the wave current into the open sea, and they ultimately went missing.
“All three were swept away by the current simultaneously,” he said.
He stated that this maritime accident serves as a warning to other tourists to pay attention to weather conditions and sea currents, and to always obey danger warning signs and instructions from officers.
He urged tourists not to swim in areas with strong currents, noting that Karangpapak Beach is one such area where the waves are quite dangerous.