Sanusi, resident of RT 13/02, Marunda Urban Village, Cilincing Sub-District, North Jakarta, was plunged into the Marunda East Flood Canal (KBT) this morning at around 8.30 AM, Tuesday (9/9). Until now, the body of the freelance janitor who just being employed a week ago has not been found.

He cannot swim and also did not put on life jacket

Based on the information gathered, before the incident happened Sanusi was riding a boat on the middle of KBT to pick up the trashes when the boat’s engine suddenly dead. Determined to get the engine back on, he tried to fix it. Unfortunately, he got slipped and fell into the KBT.

“He had got helped from his colleague named Mardi (24). But since the victim was heavy, he got loose. He cannot swim and also did not put on life jacket,” disclosed Muharom (28), one of the boat passengers.

Responding this incident, security officer of Green Belt Park River Lake Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) for Jakarta Cleanliness Department, Hasan Basri, explained there are 46 janitors working around KBT every day as well as two 40-PK boats and two cleansing boats that use Kubota engines.

“Indeed, not all (janitors) get the life jackets, because there are only 20 life jackets,” he told.

Meanwhile, North Jakarta Fire and Disaster Handling Sub-Department Platoon Commandant, Supriyadi, said that his party received report about this incident at around 11 AM. To find the victim, he deployed eight personnel, one rubber boat, two fire trucks, and two ambulances from PMI including eight medics.

“We are trying to find him. Hopefully the victim could be found soon,” he stated.