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Holidaymakers crowd Ancol beach despite crocodile sighting
Over 60,000 Idul Fitri holidaymakers flocked to Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta on Saturday, a significant increase from 40,000 on regular weekends and holidays.
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Visitors flock to Ancol beach in Ancol Dreamland Park complex, North Jakarta on the second day of the Idul Fitri holiday on June 16. (Via wartakota.tribunnews.com/Ancol Dreamland Park)
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span roboto="" style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(49, 53, 52); font-family: ">Over 60,000 Idul Fitri holidaymakers flocked to Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta on Saturday, a significant increase from 40,000 on regular weekends and holidays.
According to Ancol Dreamland Park's corporate communications officer Rika Lestari, 70 percent of Ancol's visitors sought to enjoy the beach area.
"Seventy percent of Ancol Dreamland Park's visitors crowded Pantai Karnaval," she said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Saturday.
However, holidaymakers who originally wanted to enjoy the beach were concerned for their safety following news that a crocodile had been seen swimming toward Ancol beach.
Wita, a holidaymaker from Karawang, West Java, said the news about a crocodile made her fear for her family's safety.
"My son was getting ready to swim when someone suddenly told me to stay away from the beach since there had been a crocodile on the loose," she said. "I immediately ran to my son to keep him from going near the water."
The concern for safety was echoed by other holidaymakers who visited the beach.
Yuyun, who visited Ancol with her extended family, including seven children, said people had been telling her not to go near the beach before she could even unpack her picnic mat.
"I was told that a crocodile had been on the loose," she said. "I feared for the children's safety."
The crocodile was first discovered swimming toward Ancol beach on Thursday. A video showing the crocodile emerging from the water went viral on social media.
On Friday, a member of the Navy who was on patrol in Pondok Dayung dock in Tanjung Priok saw the crocodile swimming along the coastline. He proceeded to shoot the crocodile in the back of its head with a long-range firearm.
As of Saturday, the crocodile has not been found. (rfa)
