Rescue teams have located the bodies of two Singaporean tourists missing after the eruption of Mount Dukono on Indonesia’s Halmahera island. The victims were discovered clutching each other beneath rock debris.
Challenging Recovery Operation
The recovery effort faced significant obstacles from rugged terrain and heavy rainfall. Iwan Ramdani, head of Indonesia’s rescue agency, confirmed the bodies were transported to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Persistent Volcanic Activity
Mount Dukono continues to spew ash since Friday, with debris reaching heights of up to six miles during the initial blast. Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported four additional eruptions on Sunday, including one that sent ash nearly a mile into the sky. The volcano remains at the third-highest alert level, with all activity banned within a 2.5-mile radius of the crater.
Warnings Ignored for Social Media Content
Despite social media warnings, climbers persist in accessing the restricted zone to capture online content. North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu stated on Friday: “They were aware that climbing was prohibited as the mountain is a restricted zone due to its high alert status, but insisted on going ahead.”
Search Efforts and Casualties
A Sunday morning search involved around 150 personnel equipped with thermal drones scanning the crater rim. One Indonesian hiker was confirmed dead on Saturday, while 17 others survived, including seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry announced the rescued Singaporeans will return home on Sunday. Repatriation details for the deceased remain undetermined.
