A 14-year-old teenager was fatally attacked by a crocodile while doing laundry near his home in South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Muhammad Rafli Hamzah was dragged into the river by the crocodile in front of his friends and younger sibling. Despite efforts by emergency services and volunteers to locate him, his lifeless body was discovered 200 meters downstream with multiple bite marks.
The search operation, involving boats from local fishermen, recovered the victim. Police Chief Ipda Alimudin Latif confirmed the tragic outcome, emphasizing the need for community awareness to prevent such incidents. Indonesia’s diverse crocodile population faces challenges, including habitat encroachment by villagers due to mining activities, leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts.
In a separate incident, a 10-year-old boy named Affan was also killed by a crocodile while swimming with friends in the Inggoi River in North Maluku, Indonesia. Despite his companions’ efforts to seek help, the boy was already deceased when authorities arrived. Local authorities highlighted the prevalence of crocodiles in the area, underscoring the ongoing risk to residents.
Similarly, an 80-year-old grandfather named Wasim met a tragic end after being attacked by a 10ft crocodile while bathing in a river in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. His lifeless body was found in the crocodile’s grip, highlighting the persistent danger posed by crocodiles in various regions of the country.