Two cavers die in Godawang Cave

BOGOR: Two members of different Tangerang outdoor adventure clubs were found dead on Thursday morning in Godawang Cave, Cigudeg district.

It is suspected that the two, Sopian M. Nur, 27, and Harjono, 30, died due to asphyxiation. Their bodies were taken to the Bogor Indonesian Red Cross Hospital.

Sofyan, a member of student outdoor adventure club Wanapaga Tangerang, and Hariono, chairman of Benteng club at the Syech Maulana Yusuf University, were found along a caving route leading to Rangkasbitung area in Tangerang.

According to Harjono's friends, Wahyu Hidayat and Paulus Igo, the two were conducting a preliminary survey on Wednesday for a caving trip planned by Benteng club.

"We had warned him not to enter the cave yesterday because it was raining heavily, as we feared that the fast rising water would fill the cave," he said at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Wanapaga chairman Salim Syaripudin claimed he did not know that Sopian was accompanying Harjono for the survey.-- JP