Rescue Teams Evacuate 31 Hikers on Mount Bawakaraeng on Independence Day Event
- 18 Agt 2026 16:47 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- As total as 31 hikers were evacuated from Mount Bawakaraeng, Gowa, after experiencing hypothermia, asthma, severe exhaustion, and leg injuries.
- The hikers were participating in an 81st Indonesian Independence Day flag-raising ceremony at the mountain’s summit.
RRI.CO.ID, Gowa - A total of 31 hikers were evacuated after suffering from hypothermia, asthma, exhaustion, and leg injuries following their participation in an 81st Independence Day ceremony on Mount Bawakaraeng, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi. The incident serves as a crucial warning to large groups of hikers about the importance of physical preparedness and understanding extreme weather conditions before attempting to climb the mountain.
“Most of the hikers were evacuated after suffering from hypothermia, asthma, severe exhaustion, and leg injuries while navigating a crowded trail in extremely cold temperatures,” Commander of the Makassar Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Darul Astiyadi, said in Gowa on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
As reported by Antara, 26 people had been evacuated by a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team on Monday night, August 17. However, information received on Tuesday morning indicated that many other hikers were still experiencing physical difficulties, commonly referred to as being in trouble.
Most of the rescued hikers were successfully brought to the Bulu Balea Command Post for immediate medical attention. Those requiring further care were subsequently referred to the Tinggi Moncong Community Health Center.
As of Tuesday morning, field teams were still working to evacuate one hiker who had suffered a severe knee injury near Post 7 along the Lembanna route. The injured hiker was carried down the mountain on a stretcher to a safe location, taking into account the steep terrain.
Registration-post data showed that 3,786 hikers had registered to enter through four main access routes, which are Bulu Balea, Tassoso, Kanreapia, and Lembanna, to reach the mountain’s summit.
A total of 295 personnel from the joint SAR team were deployed to support participants attending the Red-and-White Flag-raising ceremony at the summit. The personnel were stationed at eight strategic points, including Ramma Valley and the summit of Mount Bawakaraeng.
The hikers were monitored under the Red-and-White Special SAR Standby Operation, which ran from August 15 to 18, 2026. The operation involved personnel from Basarnas, SAR communities, volunteers, and medical teams. They were assigned to monitor hikers from their ascent through the access routes to the summit and during their return journey.
Head of the Makassar Class A Search and Rescue Agency, Muhammad Arif Anwar, emphasized that safety operations would continue until all hikers had safely descended. He urged groups descending on the final day of the operation to look after one another and slow their pace. ***
News Recomendation
Memuat berita terbaru.....