Jakarta, IO – As many as 16 pilgrims who went missing on Mount Gede-Pangrango, Bogor regency, West Java, have been found safe and sound. They were reported lost because they entered via a less traveled route called Kulah Dua in Cigudeg.
Bogor Regency Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head of logistics and emergency Jalaludin said the residents left for the mountain on Saturday (27/1) at around 3pm WIB, per Detikcom, Mon (29/1).
“The starting point was through Pondok Menteng village, Citapen village, Ciawi, toward a pilgrimage site at Mount Pangrango,” said Jalaludin.
The next morning at around 3am WIB, they finished their pilgrimage and went down to go home. However, in the middle of the journey three people got separated from the group.
One of the survivors managed to contact his family their whereabouts via Whatsapp on Sunday (28/1) at 4.30pm WIB.
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Based on the information, SAR team immediately launched a search operation but it was already dark. The search continued on Monday (29/1) morning.
“On Monday at 10am WIB they were found at Pasir Pogor, Cileungsi, about 4 km from the Pasir Pogor security post,” he said.
According to Ciawi Police Chief Agus Hidayat, two children are among the group. Mount Gede-Pangrango National Park is actually has been closed off to climbers and tourists since December 31 for the purpose of ecosystem recovery and clean up. It may be closed until March 31 in anticipation of extreme weather. (bp)