Indonesian rescuers have found the first body from the Mount Dukono eruption, believed to be an Indonesian climber, while two Singaporean climbers remain missing despite authorities having identified their locations.
Ivan Ramdani, head of the local rescue unit, said officials are rushing to recover the body, believed to be a woman named "Angel," before sending it to the regional hospital for official identification.
However, the search for the two missing Singaporean climbers faces many obstacles as the volcano continues erupting with heavy rain and flooding mixed with volcanic debris, alongside still-hot volcanic materials, making access difficult and dangerous for rescue teams.
One of the missing persons activated an emergency locator beacon, enabling authorities to determine their position.
Previously, Indonesian rescuers disclosed the names of the two missing: Heng Wen Qiang Timothy, 30, and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid, 27.
Both, along with the deceased Indonesian climber, were among a group of 20 hikers on the slopes of Mount Dukono when the eruption occurred on Friday morning, sending ash plumes over 10 kilometers into the sky.
This incident left three people missing, while the remaining 17 climbers—seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians—were safely rescued from the area later.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that authorities have located the two missing Singaporean climbers, but the difficult terrain and intensified volcanic activity remain major obstacles for rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed it is closely coordinating with Indonesian authorities to provide consular assistance to victims and families. The seven evacuated Singaporean climbers are scheduled to return home this Sunday.
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