Mount Dukono eruption: Rescue efforts continue as two Singaporean hikers confirmed dead

Rescue efforts continue after Mount Dukono eruption claims three lives

Rescue teams in Indonesia are continuing their efforts to recover the bodies of two Singaporean hikers killed in Friday's eruption of Mount Dukono, as the volcano keeps erupting and rain hampers operations, according to local officials. The eruption, which occurred at 07:41 local time on Friday, trapped a group of 20 hikers on the mountain, killing three people—two Singaporeans and one Indonesian resident of Ternate, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Coverage comparison

The story has been covered by multiple international outlets, with the number of dead and the scale of the rescue mission evolving over the weekend. ABC Australia and Al Jazeera initially reported that 20 hikers were trapped, with nine Singaporeans among them. Later reports from the BBC — World confirmed that three hikers had died and that rescuers had located all survivors from the group. Deutsche Welle reported that three of the missing, including two foreigners, were believed to have died.

By Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported that two Singaporean nationals had been confirmed dead, and the South China Morning Post reported that rescuers were still searching for two missing hikers, with the area around the crater blanketed in ash. The number of survivors was put at 17 by the Jerusalem Post, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians, though this figure was not reported by other outlets.

Key claims

• Mount Dukono erupted on Friday morning, sending ash 10 kilometers (six miles) into the sky. This was reported by ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC — World, Deutsche Welle, and the South China Morning Post, citing Indonesia's volcanology agency.
• The group of 20 hikers comprised nine Singaporeans and the rest Indonesians, as stated by Iwan Ramdani, head of the local rescue agency, in comments to Reuters reported by ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.
• Three hikers died, including two foreigners and one Indonesian resident of Ternate, according to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu, as reported by Deutsche Welle, BBC — World, and the Jerusalem Post.
• The area had been closed to visitors since April 17 due to increased volcanic activity, as reported by ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.
• Mount Dukono has erupted more than 200 times since late March, according to BBC — World.
• Rescuers found all survivors from the group of 20 hikers, with most evacuated and treated in hospital, as reported by BBC — World. Two porters stayed behind to assist in locating bodies.
• Two Singaporean nationals were confirmed dead on Sunday, with bodies found near the crater rim, according to the Jerusalem Post, which cited local rescue agency head Iwan Ramdani.
• Seventeen people survived the eruption, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
• Rescue efforts have been hampered by continued eruptions and bad weather, with rain falling in the area, as reported by the South China Morning Post and the Jerusalem Post.

Personal account

A guide who led the group, Reza Selang, described to the BBC how he narrowly escaped being crushed by a large rock ejected from the crater, which landed on two hikers beside him. He said he was unaware of the climbing ban, despite authorities saying they had posted warnings on social media and banners at trail entrances.

Singaporean hiker Timothy Heng, 29, was one of the two Singaporeans found dead on Sunday. His stepsister, Tessa Oh, told the South China Morning Post that his family took comfort in knowing "his final moments were used to help someone else," as accounts suggested he had run back to assist others during the eruption.

Perspectives

Indonesian authorities

Local rescue and police officials, including Iwan Ramdani and Erlichson Pasaribu, have provided updates on the death toll and the progress of rescue operations, emphasizing the challenges posed by ongoing eruptions and bad weather.

Hiker guide Reza Selang

Reza Selang, who led the group, described the harrowing experience of the eruption and said he was not informed of the climbing prohibition, contrasting with authorities' assertions that warnings had been issued.

Family of victims

Relatives of Timothy Heng, through Tessa Oh, expressed that they were comforted by his final actions, which they believe were aimed at helping others, reflecting a personal perspective on the tragedy.