MADINAH – Two missing Indonesian pilgrims from 2023 have started to receive some clarity in their search. However, the Hajj Service Officers (PPIH) of Saudi Arabia still need to verify the information.

Since the peak of the hajj pilgrimage in Arafah on June 27, 2023, two Indonesian pilgrims have yet to be found. They are Idun Rohim Zen (87) from the Palembang Kloter 20 Embarkation (PLM 20) and Suharja Wardi Ardi (69) from the Kertajati Kloter 10 Embarkation.

According to Arsad Hidayat, the Director of Hajj Development at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag RI), there was information received last night which is currently being identified. It is reported that a deceased body was found with similarities to one of the missing pilgrims.

At present, the Saudi Arabian PPIH hotline service is confirming the body's identification with the family of the deceased. Moreover, the wife of the missing pilgrim is still in Saudi Arabia. Arsad said, "She is being called by the family to see if the body found is either her husband or not. Coincidentally, she went on the hajj journey as well."

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Arsad stated that the body is currently at the Muasim hospital in Makkah. The identification process is being done through specific physical characteristics that can be observed.

"Coincidentally, the body found does not have an identification bracelet, that's why we need a direct witness from the closest family members. Hopefully, we just have to wait," he added.

Arsad mentioned that the Saudi Arabian PPIH is currently unable to confirm the identity of the body. According to him, the PPIH hotline service is intensively conducting searches in places related to the missing pilgrims' whereabouts, such as hospitals in Makkah, Thaif, and even Jeddah.

"The Saudi Arabian PPIH is also tracing locations previously visited by the pilgrims, concerned that they may have been left behind in Arafah, Muzdalifah, or Mina's toilets," he said.

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He stated that the Saudi Arabian PPIH is also coordinating with the Saudi Arabian police to ensure that the pilgrims can be found. "We are taking every possible step to locate the identified pilgrims," he said.

In addition to the two Indonesian pilgrims from 2023 who are still missing, one pilgrim who went missing since Mina on June 29, 2023, Niron Sunar Suna (77) from the Surabaya Kloter 65 Embarkation (SUB 65), was found deceased at An Noor hospital in Makkah on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (*)