Jember, E Java (ANTARA News) - Two students from Bondowoso District -- Rofin, 14, and Muhammad Radip, 12, -- died from drowning while bathing in a river estuary area of Payangan Beach in Sumberejo Village, Jember District, East Java Province.

"Today, we found the body of one of the missing victims, who was swept away by the waters of the river until Payangan Beach. Two died in this incident," Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency of Jember Heru Widagdo stated here on Monday.

According to the group of tourists from Bondowoso, on Sunday (June 17) afternoon, the students had gathered at the river to relax, but later the victim went along with his friends to bathe at the edge of the river estuary downstream to Payangan Beach Plawangan, which is a South sea beach.

"The Search and Rescue team of tourism personnel and fishermen, who saw the victims bathe, had reminded their families to not take a bath there. However, the families of the victims ignored the warning of the officers and local residents," he explained.

Suddenly, the river currents became quite strong and dragged the three students to the Payangan Beach Plawangan of Jember. The beach officers and local residents attempted to save the victims.

"Angga Erlangga, 12, was rescued, while Rofin was found dead, and another victim named Mohammed Radip was swept away by the waters of Payangan Beach and was found on Monday morning around the site," he revealed.

Widagdo confirmed that on receiving the report of a victim having drowned on Sunday afternoon, the BPBD of Jember had coordinated with the National Agency of Search and Relief and joint SAR team in the area of the scene.

"The body of the victim Muhammad Radip was found this morning by fishermen around the Payangan Beach Plawangan after which the Love Bay SAR team, along with the fisherman and his family, retrieved the body of the victim, who was taken by the Ambulu Police`s car to the nearest health center," he stated.

He urged tourists to be heedful of the signs posted by the management of tourism attractions for their comfort and safety while enjoying the Lebaran holidays in Jember District to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

Reported by Zumrotun Solichah
(T.KR-TQA/INE)
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/C/O001)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018