16.10.2024 16:40
A 21-year-old tourist named Rony Josua Simanjuntak was attacked by a giant wave while taking a selfie at Kedung Tumpang Beach in East Java, Indonesia. The moment of the incident was captured on camera, showing the young tourist being swept away by the sea. While his friends initially laughed, not realizing the seriousness of the situation, they were horrified when they later realized that Simanjuntak had been dragged out to open water. The incident has reignited discussions about the potential dangers of taking selfies.
In Kedung Tumpang Beach, located in East Java, Indonesia, a 21-year-old tourist named Rony Josua Simanjuntak was attacked by a giant wave while taking photos. The incident occurred on October 13, when the young man from North Sumatra was suddenly swept into the sea by a large wave while posing on wet rocks with his friends.
The moment of the incident was captured on camera. The footage shows Simanjuntak initially smiling and spreading his arms, then falling from the rocks as the wave hits. While his friends initially did not grasp the seriousness of the situation and laughed, they were horrified when they realized that Simanjuntak had been swept out to open water.
Pucanglaban Police Chief Iptu Bambang Kurniawan stated that Simanjuntak had come to the beach with 15 university friends. He mentioned that due to the size of the waves, his friends were unable to help.
Search and rescue operations were immediately initiated. Three teams were assigned: one in the sea with rubber boats, and the other two searching along the rocks. Due to the rugged terrain, the boats were launched into the sea from Sine Beach, which is 8 km away.
Kedung Tumpang Beach is famous for its impressive natural rock pools and lagoons. However, this beautiful scenery can be dangerous, especially during high tide. In 2016, two tourists were also swept away by waves while taking selfies at the same beach.
Authorities are warning tourists and young people to be cautious in this area. They are advised not to approach the water and to avoid taking photos in dangerous areas.
This incident has reignited discussions about the potential dangers of taking selfies. Researchers in Australia state that taking selfies has now become a "public health issue." In the last 13 years, approximately 400 selfie-related accidents have been reported worldwide. Experts suggest that social media applications should warn users about the dangers.