ibnchannel.id – The SAR (Search and Rescue) team launched a search for four individuals who had not returned from a hike on Mount Batukaru, Penebel District, Tabanan, on Monday (June 30, 2025). On Sunday (June 29, 2025), at around 4:30 AM WITA, they departed from Griya Loka Subak Dalem III Housing, Gatsu, Denpasar.
Standby officers at the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office received information from one of the hikers’ parents, named Ketut Ganes, at 2:15 AM. According to the report, the group had begun their hike from the Pujungan route, where their parked motorbikes were found.
“The mother reported that her son said goodbye to go hiking on Mount Batukaru with three friends—one male and two females,” explained I Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office. The day before, Ketut Ganes’ father managed to contact him at 11:00 AM via mobile phone, but afterward, they could no longer be reached.
The Buleleng Rescue Post team dispatched six personnel at around 2:30 AM to Batukaru. Coordination was also carried out with the Tabanan District Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Pupuan Police Sector, and local guides. By 4:05 AM, the joint SAR team had arrived at Pura Siwa, Pujungan Village. After preparing personnel and SAR equipment, the hike began at 4:45 AM.
This morning, around 7:40 AM, information was received from the family confirming that the four hikers were lost. “The targets were reached by phone and stated that they were in the Wanagiri Kauh area and planned to return to Pujungan,” added Sidakarya.
One of the missing individuals, Ketut Ganes, had already returned to Pujungan at 8:10 AM, while the other three friends were in Sari Bhuana waiting to be picked up.***
