Indonesian SAR Teams Recover Drowning Victims in Sumatra and Riau Rivers

On 8 August 2026, a joint search‑and‑rescue (SAR) team in South Sumatra recovered the body of Sukadi, a 60‑year‑old truck driver who drowned in the Baung River near Air Sugihan, Ogan Komering Ilir. The victim was found floating about two kilometres from the incident site and was taken to Bhayangkara Hospital in Palembang.

A separate SAR operation in Riau province concluded on 7 August 2026 when rescuers located the body of a 13‑year‑old boy, identified only as MS, after a three‑day search in the Siak River near the Singapore Garden area of Siak Regency. The boy had gone missing while swimming with friends, and his body was recovered roughly three kilometres upstream and transferred to Siak Hospital.

Both recoveries involved Basarnas and local police and fire services, and officials emphasized the need for caution when navigating rivers during high water levels.