A 14-year-old boy was mauled to death by a crocodile while washing clothes in a river in South Konawe Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, as friends watched in horror.
Crocodile Attack Claims Life of 14-Year-Old Boy in Indonesia
A crocodile has attacked and killed a schoolboy in front of his friends in Indonesia. The incident occurred when the 14-year-old boy was doing laundry in a river.
Muhammad Rafli Hamzah, 14, tragically died from the crocodile attack. His friends and younger sibling watched as he struggled to escape before being dragged into the river.
A frantic search began on Monday. Relatives and rescue volunteers scoured the river for hours. They eventually found Rafli’s lifeless body floating in the water.
Search and Recovery Efforts
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | South Konawe Regency, South Sulawesi |
| Distance from Attack | 200 meters |
| Search Team | Joint SAR and Fire Department |
| Body Condition | Many bite wounds |
Ipda Alimudin Latif, the Kolono Police Chief, confirmed the body was recovered 200 meters from the attack site. He stated, “There were many bite wounds.” He urged the public to be more vigilant to prevent future incidents.
The Indonesian archipelago has 14 types of crocodiles. The region has a large population of estuarine crocodiles. Conservationists believe overfishing and habitat loss have pushed crocodiles closer to villages.
Widespread tin mining has also led to villagers encroaching on crocodile habitats. This has increased the risk of crocodile attacks as locals continue to use rivers for bathing and fishing.
This incident follows another tragic crocodile attack. Last month, a 10-year-old boy named Affan was killed while swimming with friends in the Inggoi River in North Maluku.
Affan was attacked and dragged underwater. His friends rushed to alert authorities but were too late. Affan died from his injuries.
Hendra Gunawan, the South Halmahera Police Chief, noted that the area is a known crocodile hotspot. He said, “Crocodiles still often appear there. The locals say they’re swamp crocodiles.”
A joint search team of police, soldiers, and rescue volunteers searched the waters, fearing more crocodile attacks. Search efforts continued until early morning on December 18, when the crocodile resurfaced near a village pier.
