NewKerala.com

Search Intensifies for Missing Climbers After Mount Dukono Eruption

Search and rescue teams are still looking for three missing climbers following the eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia. Two foreign nationals have been located near the crater but cannot be evacuated due to extreme terrain and high volcanic activity. The Indonesian climber remains missing, and the hiking route had been closed since April 17. Authorities urge compliance with safety regulations and warn of volcanic mudflows during rainfall.

Key Points: Search for 3 Missing Climbers at Mount Dukono

  • Two foreign nationals located near crater but not evacuated due to extreme terrain
  • Indonesian climber still missing
  • Mount Dukono hiking route closed since April 17
  • Three people killed in Friday eruption
2 min read

Indonesia: Search and rescue teams still looking for missing climbers at Mount Dukono

Search teams continue looking for three climbers, including two foreign nationals, after Mount Dukono eruption. Evacuation efforts hindered by extreme terrain.

"We urge hiking operators and the public to help disseminate information about the route closure. - Abdul Muhari"

Jakarta, May 9

Search and rescue teams continue to look for three missing climbers following the eruption of Mount Dukono, Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Saturday.

Abdul Muhari, BNPB's Head of Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre, on Saturday said that two of the missing climbers are foreign nationals and one an Indonesian.

"On the second day of the operation, the team focused the search on an area believed to be where the victims were located. The two foreign nationals were detected 20 to 30 metres from the rim of the main crater," he added, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.

According to BNPB, the two foreign nationals had been located, but due to extreme terrain and high volcanic activity at Mount Dukono, evacuation efforts had not yet been carried out. However, the Indonesian climber has not been located yet.

The report mentioned that regret was expressed by BNPB over the climbing activity despite the Mount Dukono hiking route being fully closed since April 17 by the the Mount Dukono hiking route.

"We urge hiking operators and the public to help disseminate information about the route closure. Violations may result in sanctions under prevailing regulations to ensure public safety," Muhari said, noted the report.

BNPB also urged the public to comply with the Geological Agency recommendations on activity restrictions to prevent similar incidents, it added.

Mount Dukono erupted at around 7:40 am local time on Friday, sending a column of volcanic ash up to about 10 km into the sky.

Local police said that three people were killed due to the sudden erruption.

The rescue authorities warned residents not to carry out activities within a 4-km radius of the crater and cautioned that volcanic mudflows could occur during rainfall.

Mount Dukono, standing 1,087 metres above sea level, is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
This is so awful. Indonesia has so many active volcanoes, and Mount Dukono is clearly a restless one. Sending thoughts to the families of those missing and the victims. I hope rescue teams can safely retrieve the climbers without putting themselves at risk. The ash plume reaching 10 km sounds terrifying.
V
Vikram M
One wonders why the climbing route was closed but people still went ahead. In India too, we see trekkers ignoring warnings in places like Uttarakhand and Himachal. This is a sad reminder that adventure should not come at the cost of common sense. Hope the authorities there are able to locate the missing Indonesian climber soon.
J
James A
Horrible situation. The terrain and volcanic activity make this a nightmare for rescuers. Three dead and three missing is a significant tragedy for a single event. I really hope the authorities in Indonesia can enforce the closure of such dangerous routes better. No mountain is worth dying for.
P
Priya S
My heart goes out to the families of those affected. It's frustrating that the route was closed for weeks, yet people ignored it. In India, we've seen similar cases like the Kedarnath floods where warnings were disregarded. Strict enforcement is needed. Also, I hope the international community helps Indonesia with the search and rescue if needed.
M
Michael C
This is a tragedy that was likely avoidable. The climbers should have been aware of the closure. However, I'm also wondering if the local operators properly informed the climbers. Either way, this is a disaster that could have been prevented. I hope lessons

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50