Flash Flood Hits 249 Yogyakarta School Trip Students, Kills 8

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - A flash flood hit 249 students trekking along Sempor River during a school trip in Turi, Sleman District, Yogyakarta, killing at least eight, while two went reportedly missing, a local rescue officer stated here, today.

Since Friday night until Saturday, the rescuers and locals retrieved eight bodies, six of which had been found in proximity to the site of the flooding, while two others were spotted in the riverbed of Lengkong Dam, two kilometers from the river.

The group of 249 junior high students was on a scouting activity along the river when a flash flood might have abruptly arisen in the waterway. The school teachers and scout leaders had decided to organize a river trekking activity, over no indications of heavy rain in the area, the Yogyakarta search and rescue office's spokesperson, Wahyu Effendi, stated.

"During the trip, the weather was overcast. There was no sign of rain. However, a sudden flash flood hit the students," Effendi added. After the incident, 23 students were injured, while 213 others were saved from the incident.

The Yogyakarta Police began investigation a day after the incident occurred.

"We will question anyone involves in the school trip," the police spokesperson, Police Chief Commissioner Yulianto, noted in a statement.

He revealed that the police will also double-check the rules on the school scouting activity.

"We will examine regulations on high-risk scouting activities to further determine the suspects," Yulianto added.

ANTARA