While performing a meditation ritual, 11 people drowned on a beach in Indonesia

Indonesian officials said on Sunday that 11 people drowned after being swamped while performing a midnight meditation ritual on a beach on the south coast of Indonesia's East Java province.

A group of 24 people from several villages came to Payangan Beach on Saturday to perform a meditation ritual on the beach.


In an interview with Compass TV, district official Hendy Siswanto said that the participants were warned about the waves, but they came nonetheless.

"We were hit by two big waves. I stood up and ran away from the shore after the first one hit me," one survivor, who referred to himself as Bayo, told Compass TV.

Rescuers said they found the 11 bodies floating near the shore or swept away on Sunday morning.

Siswanto noted that officials have warned local residents and visitors to avoid beaches due to heavy waves.

The National Weather Service warned of the possibility of strong winds and severe weather.

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