Indonesian rescue teams have found the first body from the Mount Dukono volcanic eruption, believed to be an Indonesian climber. Meanwhile, two Singaporean climbers remain missing despite authorities having pinpointed their locations.
Ivan Ramdani, head of the local rescue unit, revealed that officials are urgently recovering the body, believed to be a woman named "Angel," before transferring it to a regional hospital for official identification.
However, the search for the two missing Singaporean climbers faces many obstacles due to ongoing volcanic eruptions, heavy rain, flash floods mixed with volcanic debris, and high-temperature volcanic materials, making access difficult and dangerous for rescue teams.
One of the missing individuals activated an emergency signal device, or Locator Beacon, enabling authorities to determine their position.
Previously, Indonesian rescue units 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 part of a group of 20 hikers on the slopes of Mount Dukono when the eruption occurred on Friday morning, sending ash plumes soaring more than 10 kilometers into the sky.
The incident resulted in three missing persons, while the remaining 17 climbers—comprising seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians—were safely evacuated later.
The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) stated that officials have located the two missing Singaporean climbers, but difficult terrain and intensified volcanic activity continue to pose major challenges to rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported close coordination with Indonesian authorities to provide consular support to the victims and their families, with seven evacuated Singaporean climbers scheduled to return home this Sunday.
Read more aboutInternational News