Six Unhas Students Evacuated from Kalibbong Alloa Cave After Leg Cramps and Exhaustion

Six students from Hasanuddin University (Unhas) who suffered leg cramps and extreme exhaustion while hiking in the Kalibbong Alloa cave area, Pangkajene and Kepulauan Regency, South Sulawesi, were successfully evacuated by a joint search and rescue team on Monday (27/7). The evacuation process was hampered by a steep 25-metre cliff that required special lowering techniques. The incident occurred while the six students were carrying out a community service programme (KKN) in Belae Village, Minasatene District, with an agenda to promote special interest tourism. On Sunday evening (26/7) around 21.00 WITA, student Ine Agustina, 21, experienced leg cramps, followed by five of her colleagues—Baso Rafiansyah, Riyanti Rahmania Putri, Adel Zain Filadelfia, Mutiara Kamilah, and Lulu—who suffered from exhaustion, rendering them unable to continue their journey and in need of emergency medical assistance. The first report was received from a local resident, Haru Belae, in the early hours of Monday (27/7) at 02.30 WITA. The Makassar Class A Search and Rescue Office immediately dispatched a rescue team and coordinated with the Pangkajene and Kepulauan Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). Andi Sultan, Head of the Operations and Alert Section at the Makassar Class A Search and Rescue Office, stated that the team was deployed using a personnel truck equipped with communication tools, medical equipment, and specialised evacuation gear. The team arrived at the location at 04.14 WITA and immediately coordinated with the joint elements on the ground. The evacuation operation involved the Makassar Basarnas Rescue Team, Pangkep BPBD, Minasatene Police, Pangkep SAR Potential, the Tropica organisation, and the local community. Andi Sultan explained that the main obstacle in the field was the steep cliff terrain, approximately 25 metres high, requiring the team to apply a rope system technique to lower all victims safely. At 09.47 WITA, the six students were successfully evacuated in a safe condition. They were taken to the Minasatene Community Health Centre for further medical treatment.