All Three Victims Of Mount Dukono Eruption Recovered, SAR Operation Ends

By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil

JAKARTA, May 10 (Bernama) -- The bodies of all three hikers killed in the eruption of Mount Dukono in eastern Indonesia have been recovered, officially ending the search and rescue (SAR) operation on Sunday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)

BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre head Abdul Muhari said the final two victims, both Singaporean nationals, were found not far from the location where the first victim’s body was recovered on Saturday.

He identified the two victims as H.W.Q.T., 30, and S.M.B.A.H., 27, while the first victim recovered earlier was an Indonesian national identified as E.

“The bodies were evacuated to the Mount Dukono eruption emergency response post before being transferred to Tobelo Regional General Hospital for identification and further handling,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Besides the three fatalities, 15 others survived the early Friday morning incident, comprising seven Singaporean nationals and eight Indonesians.

Abdul Muhari said the evacuation process was hampered by thick volcanic material burying the victims, while fluctuating eruptive activity at the volcano forced rescuers to proceed cautiously to ensure the safety of personnel on the ground.

He said 98 joint SAR personnel were deployed and divided into four teams involving the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the North Halmahera Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian military and police, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Emergency Response Team Gosowong and local residents.

The North Halmahera administration had earlier imposed a total ban on climbing activities at Mount Dukono from April 17, which was later reinforced through a regent’s decree issued on Friday, permanently closing the hiking route.

Authorities also prohibited residents and tourists from entering areas within a four-kilometre radius of the crater in line with recommendations from Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

-- BERNAMA