TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police and the search-and-rescue agency (SAR) personnel, along with members of Sumedang's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) are still searching for two local residents that drowned in Darmaraja district's section of Jatigede Dam in Sumedang regency on Wednesday evening, February 17, 2016.

Signs of 17-years old Ujang Mastur from Ciduging hamlet, and 27-years old Imam Muhammad, of Sukasari hamlet in Darmaraja district, have yet to be found.

The Head of Sumedang's BPBD, Ayi Rusmana, said that witnesses reported that the Ujang was swimming in Jatigede Dam when he exclaimed for help as his foot cramped up while swimming. Imam - who heard his plea for assistance - swam to the middle of the dam to help out. "However, the strength of the current and the depth of the dam - which is as deep as 10 metres in the location - overpowered and drowned both victims," he said to Tempo on Thursday, February 18, 2016.

The incident occurred at 17.30 local time, and bystanders who witnessed the incident did not dare to swim to the victims to assist them out of fear of drowning themselves. "They were afraid to act, so they immediately scrambled to local authorities for help," said Rusmana.

SAR officials, along with several members of the Police and Sumedang's BPBD rushed to search for the victims at the location, but their search was halted at 19.00 because of the pitch darkness of the site of the incident. "We continued our search this morning, and our teams are focusing on several areas where the victims are most likely to have been dragged by the current," continued Rusmana.

This is the first incident of drowning in Jatigede Dam - as such, Rusmana calls on local residents to not swim in the Dam, as currents are highly unpredictable. "It is very dangerous to swim in the dam's flooded areas," he said.

According to Tempo's observation, local residents have begun to utilise Jatigede Dam for a number of uses - both leisure and business. While some simply waded and swam around the shallower parts near the banks of the dam, some have begun working as tour operators - renting out makeshift boats for tours across the dam's vicinity.

Rusmana said that the area should have been sterilised from any sort of activities, as the dam's current and depth have yet to reach a stable point. "Technically speaking, no boats are permitted to make any journeys across and around the dam, but residents continue to do so despite repeated warnings," he said.

IQBAL T. LAZUARDI S.