UNG Student Dies in Wave Accident on Pulau Bugisa, Gorontalo, Indonesia

Rizka Halid, a 25‑year‑old postgraduate student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Negeri Gorontalo (UNG), was killed after being swept away by strong currents on the beach of Pulau Bugisa (also reported as Pulau Bogisa) in the Ponelo Kepulauan district of Gorontalo Utara on 2 August 2026.

Halid and eight friends had arrived on the island the previous evening for a camping trip. After swimming in the early morning, she and two other women were caught in a powerful wave. Their companions attempted rescue, and a German‑owned tourist boat that passed nearby also helped pull the victims toward shore. Despite these efforts, Halid lost consciousness and was declared dead upon arrival at Zainal Umar Sidiki Hospital.

The incident was reported by the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Gorontalo Utara police, and the local military command. Authorities noted that the strong currents made the rescue difficult and that the German tourists provided initial assistance for about 15‑20 minutes before medical help arrived.