Malang. A flash flood on the Brantas River in Junrejo subdistrict in the East Java town of Batu killed three on Saturday after sweeping away a group of 18 rafters following heavy rain upstream.
The team had reportedly left from Klerek hamlet in Torongrejo village, in five different rafts, setting out on six-kilometer route. Shortly into their trip, however, unexpected heavy currents sent the boats drifting off course.
Three of the boats managed to pull over to the riverbanks, while the remaining two went missing along with five members of the group.
Three were found dead and one survived, while a search for the last victim was still remains ongoing as of Sunday.
“It wasn’t raining [in Torongrejo], but there was heavy rain upstream. The five boats were suddenly swept away by the flash flood,” Batu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) chief Achmad Choirur said on Sunday.
“Today’s search involves about 200 volunteers who have been divided into 19 groups who are focusing on the Sengguruh dam in Malang district, which is within a 50-kilometer radius from where their boat capsized in the Brantas River in Torongrejo village,” Achmad said.
The body of one of the victims, whom officials have identified as Nurul Komar, was found on Friday at Pendem village, three kilometers from the location of the incident.
Two other victims, Ilham Delli and Riki Kiki Anggian, were found on Saturday at Sengguruh Kepanjen dam, while Candra Pratama Putra, who survived the incident, was immediately admitted to the police hospital in Batu.
Candra is reported to be in good physical condition, but remains traumatized by the events and is not yet fit for investigations, an official said.
“We will question Candra once he is psychologically ready. After that, we will open the case and investigate whether there has been negligence in the rafting organizers’ part or if it was an accident,” Batu Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Yantofan said on Sunday.
