Five Indonesian women working as technical interns in Kumamoto received certificates of appreciation from the Kumamoto Minami Police Station chief for rescuing an elderly woman in her 80s. The incident occurred on January 15 in Minami Ward, where the women pulled the victim from a waterway and ensured her warmth before calling emergency services.
On February 2, 2026, five Indonesian women employed at a vegetable sorting facility in Minami Ward, Kumamoto, were presented with certificates of appreciation by the chief of the Kumamoto Minami Police Station. The women are participating in Japan's government-sponsored technical intern training program.
The rescue took place on January 15, as the group was heading home and spotted an elderly woman in her 80s who had fallen into a waterway approximately one meter deep in the same ward. They promptly lifted her to safety, provided hats and gloves to keep her warm, and contacted emergency services.
Nira Nur Malisa, 30, one of the rescuers, stated, “We thought, ‘Someone is in trouble, so we have to help.’"
This recognition highlights the positive contributions of foreign technical interns to local communities. The police station praised the women's swift actions, which helped mitigate potential harm to the victim.
