Two Sidoarjo Hikers Missing on Semeru, SAR Deploys Joint Team
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- Dua remaja asal Sidoarjo berinisial BK dan MWF (19) dilaporkan hilang setelah mendaki Gunung Semeru tanpa izin resmi sejak 2 November 2026.
- Tim SAR gabungan dari Banyuwangi, Jember, TNBTS, Polrestabes Surabaya, dan BPBD Lumajang dikerahkan dengan perlengkapan drone thermal dan peralatan evakuasi.
- Sepeda motor sewaan korban ditemukan di ladang warga, menjadi petunjuk awal; operasi pencarian masih berlangsung hingga Sabtu sore.
Two 19-year-old hikers from Sidoarjo, BK and MWF, have been reported missing in the Gunung Semeru area of Lumajang Regency, East Java, after allegedly climbing without an official permit. The missing-person report reached the Banyuwangi SAR Office on Saturday afternoon (7/11), triggering a joint search operation involving several agencies.
The head of the Banyuwangi SAR Office, I Made Oka Astawa, said his office received the report from the head of the Ranu Pani National Park Management Resort (RPTN) at 14.37 WIB. According to him, the two hikers had originally planned to climb on 31 October 2026, but since 2 November at around 21.00 WIB they could no longer be contacted. “We immediately deployed a team for the search and rescue operation,” Astawa said in a written statement.
Initial information indicated that BK and MWF rented a motorcycle at Lumajang Terminal on 4 November to head to Ranu Pani. Two days later, on Friday (6/11) at 13.00 WIB, the vehicle was found parked in a resident's field not far from the hiking trail. The discovery was an important clue for the SAR team in narrowing the search area.
The search operation involves the Jember SAR Post Rescue Team (4 personnel) and the Banyuwangi SAR Office Rescue Team (5 personnel), supported by TNBTS, Polrestabes Surabaya, BPBD Lumajang, and local residents. The team is equipped with operational vehicles, thermal drones, mountaineering gear, jungle rescue equipment, medical supplies, and evacuation equipment. Weather at the location was reported as sunny with clouds, though the Semeru terrain is known to be challenging.
“Search efforts will be carried out to the maximum, prioritizing coordination and synergy among all joint SAR elements. As of this initial report, both hikers are still being searched for,” Astawa said.
Meanwhile, the head of BPBD Lumajang, Isnugroho, said his agency was still waiting for official information from TNBTS. However, he confirmed BPBD was ready to assist the operation. “The victims' families have filed a missing-person report in Sidoarjo, the Basarnas team is already heading to Ranu Pani, and the TNBTS team is also preparing a search. We are ready to support,” he said.
The incident highlights the problem of illegal climbing in conservation areas. Gunung Semeru, part of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, requires hikers to go through permit and registration procedures. Climbing without a permit not only endangers the hikers' safety but also complicates rescue efforts because the victims' whereabouts are not recorded.
Similar cases have occurred before, and national park managers have repeatedly urged the importance of safety procedures. The absence of a permit makes it difficult for the SAR team to trace the route and exact climbing time, so search operations take longer. In addition, weather conditions on Semeru, which can change quickly, are an additional risk factor.
As of this report, the fate of BK and MWF remains unknown. The joint SAR team continues searching around the area where the motorcycle was found and along the hiking trail. The public is urged not to climb without a permit and to always report climbing plans to the management.
Going forward, this incident should serve as material for evaluation by national park managers and local governments to tighten supervision of hiking trails, while raising hikers' awareness of the importance of safety procedures. Will there be firm action against illegal climbing, or instead a strengthening of a more accessible permit system?
