Ketapang Beach Source: Trip Advisor

Two citizens from Saudi Arabia, a mother and her daughter, tragically drowned while enjoying a vacation in Indonesia, The Jakarta Post reported

The two victims hail from Jeddah and have been identified as Jamilah Abdul Malik, 45, and Elham Abdulsalam, 26. Both were swimming at Ketapang Beach when the incident took place on Sunday afternoon. 

In a statement on the matter, Wiswananda, spokesperson of the Mataram Search and Rescue Agency, said: "The two victims were tourists from the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Both traveled to Lombok and were staying at a private villa in the Senggigi area, West Lombok."

He added that the victims had traveled to Selon Belanak from Senggigi on a tourist bus and decided to go for a swim at the local beach at around 2 p.m. 

Just half an hour after arriving at the beach, Abdul Malik was swept away by high tides while swimming. Her daughter attempted to save her but was also dragged away by the strong waves.

Security men, public order officers, and people who were at the scene launched a wide search for the women. Their bodies were recovered at around 5:30 p.m. and were immediately transferred to the Bhayangkara Regional Police Hospital. 

According to Sabq new site, the victims' bodies have since been repatriated to the kingdom. 

In his statement on the matter, the Saudi ambassador in Indonesia, Issam bin Abed Al Thuqfi, confirmed that the embassy followed up on the case. He also said that Saudi officials in Indonesia provided assistance to the victims' family members who were at the beach when the tragic incident took place. 

Al Thuqfi warned Saudi tourists to take all necessary precautions while traveling abroad and to choose "calm beach resorts that are licensed by the Indonesian state."

Not the first tragic incident to involve an Arab tourist in Indonesia this year

In July, a 28-year-old Jordanian man who was on his honeymoon went missing just 24 hours after he and his wife arrived in Bali, Indonesia. 

Later identified as Mahmoud Melhim, the young man's body was found drowned in the sea. The deceased's family had reported his disappearance to the Jordanian Embassy in Indonesia hours before he was announced dead.