Tuesday, 10 November 2026
DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM- Deli Serdang Deputy Regent Lom Lom Suwondo visited the search site on Sunday, 8 November 2026, where rescue teams are still looking for a 16-year-old teenager who reportedly went missing in the Batang Kuis River. His visit demonstrated the Deli Serdang Regency Government's concern for the family affected by the incident and its support for the search and rescue (SAR) teams working to locate the missing teenager.
The incident took place near the boundary between Sambirejo Timur Village in Percut Sei Tuan District and Sena Village in Batang Kuis District. A bridge connecting the two village areas stands close to the location where the teenager reportedly disappeared.The incident occurred on Friday, 6 November 2026, at approximately 2.45 pm Western Indonesian Time. The teenager, who lived on Jalan Sederhana, Dusun XI Bakung, Sambirejo Timur Village, reportedly went missing after jumping into the river with several friends.
The incident began when the teenager and his friends visited the river to swim. They chose an area near the bridge at the boundary between Sambirejo Timur and Sena villages.However, what had started as an ordinary outing quickly turned into an emergency when the teenager failed to resurface after jumping into the water. His friends witnessed what happened but were afraid to attempt a rescue because they feared being swept away by the current and drowning themselves.
According to information provided by his friends, the teenager could not swim. This increased concerns among his family and local residents, particularly as the search operation was still under way on Sunday.The village administration also informed the teenager's family through the Head of Dusun XI Bakung. This coordination ensured that the family received information about the incident and the response being carried out at the scene.
Since the report was received, SAR personnel and other relevant teams have been searching the area around the point where the teenager was last seen. The operation requires rescuers to examine the possibility that the river current may have carried him further downstream.During the operation, rescue personnel have used a motorboat to search along the Batang Kuis River. The boat is being used to cover sections of the waterway in an effort to locate the missing teenager.
The operation also involves coordination between the SAR teams, village officials and other relevant authorities. Support from the different parties is essential to ensure that the search proceeds systematically and that rescuers can reach sections of the river that are difficult to inspect from the riverbank.At the time of the Deputy Regent's visit on Sunday, the search operation was still under way. The information available at that stage did not confirm that rescue personnel had located the teenager.
The Deputy Regent's presence at the location reflected the local government's concern for the affected family while providing moral support to the personnel involved in the search.
Lom Lom said that the Deli Serdang Regency Government, together with the relevant authorities, would continue supporting efforts to locate the teenager. The local administration hopes that the joint operation will help bring the search to a successful conclusion."We from the Deli Serdang Regency Government and all our officials are deeply concerned about this tragedy. The search for the victim will continue," Lom Lom concluded.
His statement reaffirmed the local government's commitment to supporting the operation as it progresses. The assistance is also expected to provide support to the family as they face the uncertainty surrounding their child's whereabouts.
The teenager's disappearance has once again highlighted the risks associated with activities in rivers, particularly for children and teenagers who cannot swim.
Rivers can present dangers that are not always visible from the surface. Changing water depths, unpredictable currents and uneven riverbeds can all increase the risk of accidents, even for people who simply intend to swim or spend time playing with friends.People who cannot swim are particularly vulnerable if they fall into the water or are swept into deeper sections of a river. In an emergency, an impulsive rescue attempt without the necessary skills or equipment can also put additional lives at risk.
For this reason, members of the public should exercise greater caution when spending time near rivers. Parents should remind their children not to swim or play in rivers without adult supervision, particularly in areas where the depth and strength of the current are unknown.If someone is seen in difficulty in the water, bystanders should immediately contact professional rescue personnel. Where suitable equipment is available, they may use it to assist the person without putting themselves directly into dangerous currents.
Meanwhile, the teenager's family and local residents continue to await further developments in the search operation along the Batang Kuis River. The Deli Serdang Regency Government, together with the SAR teams and other relevant authorities, is expected to maintain its efforts until the teenager's whereabouts are established. (IDNC)REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
