26 Karateka Drifting across the Estuary
AT a glance, it seems that there is nothing dangerous about the estuary which is located south of the Banyuwangi Sea Turtle Foundation's turtle egg hatchery (BSTF) the. The water looks calm and small. Some people also often use this location for fishing or just sitting around.
But, who would have thought, dozens of lives have been lost in that location. Indeed, anyone can experience such a drowning accident. Not only at the estuary of Boom Beach, in other locations like Grajagan Beach there may be more victims.
But, That seemingly small estuary current makes people often ask questions. Based on information from local residents, It's the smallness of the water that often traps people who play in the water there. Anglers or residents who deliberately play are usually interested in seeing the small current and then throw themselves into the water.
Umrah, 68. a resident who lives near the estuary told, children who live near the estuary do not dare to bathe in it. The location that used to be called Kali Mayit does look calm and harmless.
But, There have been many victims who died in that place. Umrah admits it's almost 50 years living near Mayit River. The calamity of the death of children drowning in the Boom estuary is like a routine cycle.
Even, drift event 26 karateka from INKAI College 23 last year was not the first. Before that incident, continued Umrah, there are frequent incidents of people drowning, both bathing and splashing.
The condition of the beach at that time was still quite far from the shore, not like now. Around the estuary surrounded by hibiscus plants and other typical coastal trees. Just above the mouth of the river there is a bridge that connects the coast of Boom Beach and Santen Island.
The river under that bridge, according to the mother of seven children and local residents, become the location most often found drowning people. Not only people who take a bath can drown, Even people who help often become victims.
“If the people here don't have the courage to go there. If there are people from outside who want to take a shower, we will also get angry. We warn, but still someone escaped,” Umrah said. Regarding the name of Kali Mayit which was pinned in the estuary river, Umrah said the reason was because many bodies were found in that place.
Both the drowned and the dead were killed. It's all in the river. So that people give the name Kali Mayit. “Before cleaning, there are two big snakes living around the estuary. But now don't know where, That's all. indeed the river is asking for sacrifice.
Sometimes once a year, two years, sometimes three years. The one who becomes the victim is lancing," he said. Meanwhile, Village Head of Mandar Village, Bambang Purwanto said the number of victims who died in the estuary was due to the currents of the sea and the estuary meeting.
So that, there is a shift of sand under the river. He also confirmed that there used to be a factory called Nabatiyasa that operated to produce oil from copra .. The river was used as a factory that closed in the 70s as a waste disposal site.
The waste had piled up in the sand to make Santan Island and Boom Beach connect. The instability of the sand on the side of the river makes people- people who swim there as if sucked by sand and water waves.
Added more, The waters that used to be overgrown with coral reefs are now barren. So that, the sand under the estuary and along Boom Beach becomes unstable. “Technically, the beach is dangerous for swimming.
But if the residents believe that there is something on the beach that asks for sacrifice for some time. After the Inkai incident there were more than five drownings there. That's what we should probably straighten up,” Bambang explained.
Regarding the trust of local residents because of the awesomeness of Kali Mayit, Bambang told that there had been an incident in 1990. At that time there was a high school student who suddenly swam in the sea and then disappeared. Before venturing into the sea, the child had told his friends that he saw a child asking for help in the sea.
even though. his friends saw nothing back then. The child finally died. Just like the case of Dadang who died in early September 2015 then. Maybe that's what makes people believe that those who died weren't just ordinary accidents.
'What is clear is that nature becomes dangerous because we can't take care of it. Maybe if we return the vegetation, Boom Beach will be friendly. Regarding the sacrifice, it's just a matter of trust.” Bambang said (radar)
