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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Illegal tin mining site claims victim in fatal crocodile attack

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • An illegal tin mining operation in Bangka, Indonesia, has resulted in a fatality after a miner was attacked by a crocodile.
  • The victim, Radit, was found deceased by a SAR team after disappearing while moving a mining pontoon.
  • Local authorities have previously reported illegal mining activities in the area to national leaders, citing environmental damage.

An illegal tin mining site in the Baturusa River Basin, Bangka Regency, Indonesia, has become the scene of a fatal crocodile attack. A miner identified as Radit was killed by a crocodile on Sunday night, July 19, 2026, around 11:00 PM WIB.

The victim's body was found floating on the river's surface, deceased, not far from the search radius from the Last Known Position (LKP) or the last position the victim was reported missing.

— SupaniCommander of the Basarnas Pangkalpinang Team, describing the discovery of the victim's body.

The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Basarnas Pangkalpinang, along with other agencies, located Radit's body on Monday, July 20, 2026, around 11:00 AM. Radit, originally from Tulung Selapan, Ogan Komering Ilir, resided in Tempilang Village, West Bangka Regency. Supani, the Commander of the Basarnas Pangkalpinang Team, reported that the victim was found floating not far from the last known position where he disappeared.

The search operation was dramatic. According to Radit's colleague, Jaka, he last saw Radit moving a "rajuk" type tin mining pontoon. Shortly after, Radit vanished. Jaka's independent search yielded no results, prompting him to report the incident to local officials who then contacted Basarnas. Supani described how a large crocodile repeatedly surfaced, gripping the victim's body, before eventually releasing it as the SAR team closed in.

The crocodile appeared and disappeared into the river when approached. The team then narrowed the crocodile's movement space by conducting intensive searches. This effort was successful because when the crocodile reappeared, it immediately released the victim's body from its bite.

— SupaniSupani detailing the dramatic moments during the SAR operation involving the crocodile.

This incident highlights the ongoing dangers associated with illegal mining activities in the region. Notably, illegal tin mining in the Jada Bahrain River Basin, also in Merawang District, had previously been reported to President Prabowo Subianto and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo by Ashari, the Head of Jada Bahrain Village. Ashari urged central government intervention to halt the blatant destruction of forest areas by these illegal operations.

We ask that this issue receive attention from the central government. Please, President Prabowo and the National Police Chief, come directly to stop these mining activities.

— AshariAshari, Head of Jada Bahrain Village, appealing for intervention against illegal mining.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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