The search for two missing Singaporean hikers at Mount Dukono remains fraught with difficulty as rescue teams battle persistent volcanic activity and inclement weather. Indonesian officials reported on Sunday that while search operations are ongoing, the missing individuals are feared dead.
Rescue Operations Hampered by Volcanic Activity
Since Sunday morning, approximately 150 personnel have been deployed to the site, supported by two thermal drones. According to Iwan Ramdani, the head of the local rescue agency, the primary focus of the search is concentrated around 100-150 meters of the crater rim.
The operation is facing significant environmental obstacles. “However, Mount Dukono continues to erupt and rain is also falling in the area. We carry out rescue efforts during intervals when there are no eruptions,” Ramdani told Reuters.
The search area extends roughly 1.25 km (0.8 mile) from the last known location of the hikers. Ramdani noted that the region surrounding the crater remains blanketed in volcanic ash.
Casualties and Evidence
The outlook for the missing hikers is grim. Police chief Erlichson Pasaribu stated that survivors of the incident have told police the two missing Singaporeans are dead. Rescue teams have recovered backpacks suspected to belong to the missing pair.
The incident has already claimed at least one life; authorities confirmed on Saturday that one Indonesian hiker who had previously gone missing was dead. In total, 17 people survived the event, including 10 Indonesians and seven Singaporeans. The Singapore Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that the surviving Singaporeans are scheduled to travel home on Sunday.
Volcanic Status and Restrictions
Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province bordering the Pacific Ocean, began erupting on Friday, initially spewing ash as high as 10 km (6 miles). While the eruption has continued at a lower scale since then, Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported at least three eruptions as of Sunday morning, with the highest reaching 1.3 km (0.8 mile).
The volcanology agency continues to maintain the third-highest alert level for the volcano. All activities within 4 km (2.5 miles) of the crater are strictly banned.
Potential Next Steps
Given the current conditions, rescue efforts may continue to rely on weather windows and intervals between eruptions to safely deploy personnel and drones. As the search progresses, authorities could potentially recover the remains of the missing hikers, though the ongoing volcanic activity and ash coverage may complicate these efforts.