Rescuers searching the hazardous slopes of Mount Dukono on Indonesia's remote island of Halmahera have found the bodies of two Singaporean hikers two days after they were caught in a volcanic eruption, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Discovery of the Victims
The bodies of the men, aged 30 and 27, were located just a few meters from where the first victim, an Indonesian female hiker, was found dead on Saturday, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency. All three had been approximately 50 meters from the rim of the main crater when the eruption occurred.
Muhari stated that the men's bodies were covered by thick layers of volcanic material, which complicated evacuation efforts and significantly slowed progress. "The bodies were buried under deep, densely packed volcanic material that is difficult to dig through," he said. "Rescue teams must proceed cautiously to ensure safety."
The Incident
The trio were among 20 hikers who set out to ascend the 1,355-meter volcano in North Maluku province, defying safety restrictions. They became stranded when Mount Dukono erupted early Friday, spewing a thick ash column that rose about 10 kilometers into the air.
Seventeen people were safely evacuated hours after the eruption, including seven Singaporean nationals. Ten of those evacuated suffered minor burns, while two others were able to join the rescue operation and provided information to help locate those missing.
Challenging Rescue Efforts
Search teams involving nearly 100 personnel faced extreme terrain and continuing volcanic activity, according to Muhari. Iwan Ramdani, head of the local search and rescue department, said the evacuation efforts on Sunday were monitored by volcanology officials as the volcano continued to spew ash, hot material, and glowing rocks. "The search operation was repeatedly disrupted by Mount Dukono's continued volcanic activity," Ramdani said. "Teams must be extremely careful during the evacuation process."
The bodies of the three victims were transported to an emergency response post before being taken to Tobelo Regional Hospital for identification and further handling.
Operation Closed
The National Disaster Management Agency announced that the search and rescue operation is now closed. The agency urged residents, tourists, and tour operators to comply with safety regulations and avoid restricted areas.
Authorities have banned all activities within a 4-kilometer danger zone around the crater, in line with recommendations from Indonesia's volcanology agency.
Volcanic Activity in Indonesia
Mount Dukono is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
