JAKARTA (CNA) – Residents of a housing complex near the Bekasi River, outside Jakarta, Indonesia were said to have been horrified on Sunday when they discovered seven bodies floating behind a mosque.
Police said they believe the victims, a group of teenagers, drowned while trying to evade arrest. Acting head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in Bekasi City Priadi Santoso confirmed that residents reported the discovery around 7am. The bodies were found in the murky waters, showing signs of swelling on their faces but no significant injuries.
“There are no major wounds, only bruises on their heads, likely due to swelling,” said a rescue officer from Bekasi, identified only as Fajar, in an interview with Kompas TV on Sunday. Local television channel TV One reported that resident Umi Suci was searching for her cat near the riverbank at about 5.30am. Instead of her pet, she came across five bodies scattered along the river, prompting her to alert her community, who contacted authorities for help.
A coordinated rescue operation involving the police, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), and BPBD was launched to recover the bodies.
Two additional bodies were later found in the same river – one floating downstream and the other stranded on the riverbank approximately 20 metre (m) away.
Authorities noted that the seven victims were similarly dressed in black jackets, but it remains unclear if the jackets bore any specific insignias or affiliations. Head of Medical Services at the police hospital Herry Wijatmoko indicated that the bodies had likely been in the water for over 24 hours, as the cold water temperature slowed decomposition.
Local authorities reported that the Bekasi River’s depth varies, with some areas reaching up to 2m. However, the spots where the bodies were found were much shallower, measuring only about 10cm or ankle-deep.
Police initiated investigations to identify the victims. All seven bodies were transported to the Keramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta, where autopsies are planned to determine the cause of death.
