A Saudi citizen has gone missing following a drowning incident off the coast of Bali, Indonesia, prompting a seven-day intensive search that has now officially concluded without locating his body. The Saudi Embassy in Indonesia confirmed it had been closely following the case of Asaad Mohammed Ali Hawsawi after receiving a request for assistance from his family on July 8.
Following directives from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy promptly notified relevant Indonesian authorities, who initiated immediate search and rescue operations. Coordination with local agencies remained ongoing, with regular updates provided to the family.
According to Indonesian media, the head of Denpasar's search and rescue office confirmed that Hawsawi, 29, was swept away by strong currents while swimming at Batu Belig Beach in Seminyak on July 8, around 2.40 pm. Preliminary investigations indicate Hawsawi was with a companion who alerted rescue teams after a flotation board rescue attempt failed due to the powerful waves.
Despite extensive efforts by emergency responders, including police, naval forces, and specialised rescue teams covering a significant stretch of coastline, no trace of Hawsawi was found. Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency announced on Monday that search efforts had ceased. Local police also confirmed that a body found on July 13 on Balangan Beach was not linked to Hawsawi, being identified as a 21-year-old Indonesian man.
Hawsawi’s case sadly echoes past drowning incidents involving Saudi nationals along Indonesian coasts, including two fatalities last August and two in 2019.
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