The search of four security personnel who drifted in Digoel River show some progress as rescue team found the personnel of Indonesian Military Force (TNI) who got washed away. Team says he was found dead in Arim Village, Iwur District, Sunday (1/29) night.
The soldier, Pratu Ferdian Kusuma, was found 5 kilometers from Iwur Pamwiltasrat Post.
“On 23:37, joint personnel of TNI-Police, led by Head Ops of Bintang Mountains Police, Commissioner Septen Sianturi, have found and evacuated the body of Pratu Ferdian Kusuma,” says Head of Bintang Mountains Police, Grand Commissioner Adjutant (AKBP) Dafi Bastomi in his written statement, Monday (1/30).
Dafi reveals that the findings began when locals reported that they had found a body in the river banks of Digul to Iwur Pamwiltasrat Post around 17:45.
The report then forwarded to Infantry Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel who then informed Dafi.
Rescue team continue their search as three police officers, who also washed away with Kusuma, are still missing.
Before eventualy finding Pratu Ferdian Kusuma, rescue team initially has found a bag in the river who allegedly belongs to one of the victims.
“The bag indicated belongs to a personnel of Bintang Mountains Police, First Police Brigadier Yohanes Matius Langgeng, and the bag has been handed over to Bintang Mountains Police HQ,” says Dafi.
Previously, a bridge had collapsed and caused three police officers and a personnel of TNI drifted away in Digoel River, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua Mountains. This happened when they are about to go to Iwur District.
Head of Public Relations of Papua Police, Grand Commissioner Benny Adi Prabowo says that the bridge could not hold the weight of 12 people who are crossing the bridge at the same time, causing it to collapse.