W. Java villagers die of asphyxiation in well

W. Java villagers die of asphyxiation in well

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post/Bandung

A grim atmosphere loomed over Selacau village, Sumedang regency,
West Java, following the death of four residents who died of gas
poisoning inside a well on Tuesday.

The victims were Aceng Kurniawan, 35, his brother-in-law
Jajuli, 21, and two of his neighbors Asikin, 45, and Yoyo
Sunarta, 21.

Another neighbor, Ayi, said that the tragedy occurred at about
9 a.m. when Aceng intended to clear up the mud he thought might
have accumulated at the bottom of his well and clogged the pipe
leading to the water pump. The 14-meter well, located outside his
house, had always been covered with a metal sheet.

However, his wish to obtain water turned to disaster and led
to a chain of events, killing four local men.

Aceng had initially went down the well using a rope aided by
Jajuli. He suddenly shouted for help when he was about five to 10
meters down, probably after he had trouble breathing and fell
into the water before Jajuli could help him.

Jajuli then went down to try to help. He tied the rope to a
nearby tree and went down to help Aceng. But, he too fell down
the well.

Stunned by the incident, Asikin and Yoyo, who were in the
vicinity, went to the rescue and descended down the well to help
Aceng and Jajuli, but to no avail. They also fell in and died.

"Asep and I wanted to help but we were discouraged by the
neighbors," Ayi told reporters at the accident scene.

Panicked villagers finally reported the incident to the
Cimanggung police, who later requested assistance from the Mobile
Brigade's Search and Rescue team stationed at the West Java
Police Headquarters.

Seven SAR team members using gas masks then recovered the four
bodies. Yoyo's body was the last evacuated at about 12:30 p.m.

Aceng's wife, Nani, 30, was too tormented by the tragedy to
speak to reporters.

Sumedang Regent Don Murdono later arrived and conveyed his
sympathy to the bereaved families.

Sumedang Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yoyok Subagyono surmised
that the four died of inhaling poison gas inside the well, which
had not been opened for a long time.

"They died of inhaling some type of dangerous gas, proven by
a test we conducted on a live chicken, which died after it was
suspended down into the well," said Yoyok.

"The four victims had not checked whether there was a presence
of gas by lighting matches or first putting live animals down the
well," he added.

"Gas is heavy in nature and usually found in deep holes,
including wells," said Yoyok.

He said that the police had determined that there was no foul
play involved, but several eyewitnesses would be questioned for
the sake of collecting data.