A woman was found dead inside the belly of a python after it swallowed her whole, local police reported on Wednesday. This marks the second fatal python attack in the province within a month.
The victim, identified as 36-year-old Siriati, had gone missing on Tuesday morning after leaving her house to buy medicine for her sick child. When she did not return, concerned relatives began a search.
“Relatives and villagers launched a search after she didn’t return home that evening,” said local police chief Wahyudi, adding that the search led them to the discovery of a large python near the village.
The massive snake, believed to be around seven meters long, was found with a distended midsection, indicating it had consumed something substantial. Villagers killed the python and upon cutting it open, they discovered Siriati’s body intact inside.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by residents in certain parts of Indonesia, where encounters with giant reticulated pythons are not uncommon. The pythons, native to the region, are among the world’s largest snake species and are known to occasionally prey on humans.
Authorities have urged the local population to remain vigilant and exercise caution when venturing into areas where these snakes are known to inhabit.
This incident follows another similar case in Central Sulawesi last month, where another local resident was swallowed whole by a python. These back-to-back tragedies have sparked concerns and calls for increased measures to prevent further occurrences.
