Rescuers locate body of Indonesian hiker, probable site of missing S’poreans on Mount Dukono

TOBELO, North Halmahera – Rescuers have found the body of an Indonesian hiker near the crater of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono, which erupted on May 8, and pinpointed the probable location of two missing Singaporean hikers.

But the rescuers could not get to the Singaporean hikers because of volcanic activity and challenging terrain.

In an update on May 9, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said preliminary information indicated that the two Singaporeans were about 20m to 30m from the rim of the main crater.

“However, extreme terrain and increasing volcanic activity prevented rescuers from carrying out an evacuation,” the agency said. “Their location required careful planning and evacuation strategies, taking into account the possibility of further volcanic escalation and the safety of all personnel.”

The BNPB said all search personnel were required to move cautiously and follow recommendations from the Mount Dukono Volcano Observation Post, which was assisting the operation.

The body of the female Indonesian hiker was found on May 9 and was being brought down the mountain on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, officials told The Straits Times.

“The victim was buried under volcanic ash about 600m from the crater in an area very close to the centre of the volcano’s activity,” said Mr Iwan Ramdani, head of the Ternate search and rescue office.

Mr Budiman Djoma, head of Mamuya village near the volcano, said: “The search for the three hikers affected by the Mount Dukono eruption remained focused on the crater area today. So far, only one victim has been found.”

He added that the search was briefly suspended after heavy rain fell around the crater.

After recovering the Indonesian woman, rescuers identified two nearby mounds of volcanic sand within about 3m of where her body was found.

Indonesia’s disaster agency said the two sites were strongly suspected to be linked to the two missing Singaporean hikers, and had been marked with GPS coordinates for excavation when search operations resume on May 10.

Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported that Mount Dukono erupted several times on May 9, sending ash as high as 3,000m above the summit. The agency said seismic activity remained intense, indicating that the eruption was still ongoing.

By May 9, around 17 people – believed to be other hikers – had been rescued, according to the Indonesian authorities, though agencies continued to release differing figures as rescue efforts unfolded.

A family member of one of the Singaporean hikers told ST that families had been advised not to travel to Ternate yet because of the volcanic activity and the logistically challenging journey into North Halmahera. The trip involves a flight from Jakarta to Ternate, followed by a 40-minute boat ride to Sofifi and a four-hour drive inland.

Relatives of missing hikers will be notified if Indonesian authorities require next of kin on the ground.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on May 9 that officers from the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta were at Mount Dukono, working with Indonesian authorities on the ongoing search and rescue efforts for the two missing Singaporeans.

The ministry also expressed deep appreciation for the efforts of local authorities in North Halmahera as the rescue operation continued under highly challenging conditions.

It added that seven Singaporeans who were evacuated from Mount Dukono were on their way to Jakarta and were expected to return to Singapore on May 10. They were in the same travel group as the two missing Singaporeans.

The search operation involved personnel from BNPB, National Search and Rescue Agency, military, police, volcanology officers, medical workers and local volunteers.

The search was halted on the evening of May 8 as night fell and visibility deteriorated. Officials had also warned that further eruptions could occur at any time.

In a briefing on May 9, Mr Iwan said the search began at 7am local time. A total of 103 personnel were divided into four search and rescue units to comb designated areas around the summit, where the missing hikers were last seen by their companions.

Each team was assigned to search an area of about 0.5 sq km.

Mr Iwan said that if the missing hikers were found, they would be evacuated to the command post before being taken to hospital. He added that a safety officer had been assigned to monitor risks and coordinate with the Mount Dukono observation post.

“We are racing against time,” he said. “If an eruption occurs, the search and rescue team must return to a safe point. When conditions are safe, we move closer to the crater area, and when an eruption occurs, we must secure all personnel involved in the search.”

In Ternate, news of the disaster spread quickly through the usually quiet island city, where residents followed updates from Mount Dukono with concern and hope.

Yet some appeared unfazed. At Sultan Babullah Airport, several travellers, including foreigners carrying large backpacks, appeared to be preparing for hiking trips despite the unfolding rescue operation.

“It is very sad news,” ride-hailing motorcycle rider Fakir Abdullah told ST. “I heard there were foreigners among the hikers, and also one was from Ternate and worked as a translator.”

The missing hikers were part of a group of 20 – nine Singaporeans and 11 Indonesians – who trekked on May 7 despite a climbing ban imposed by local authorities on April 17 and a standing 4km no-go exclusion zone around the crater. Volcanologists had expanded the no-go zone from 3km in 2024.

The hikers found themselves trapped on one of Indonesia’s most volatile volcanoes in North Halmahera, in the eastern province of North Maluku, after Mount Dukono erupted on the morning of May 8, sending a thick column of volcanic ash about 10km into the sky.

Two members of the hiking group who escaped unharmed accompanied rescuers and helped retrace the route.

According to the BNPB, teams searched several areas around the crater and along the main hiking route. On May 8, one team followed the main trail to a point 500m below the crater. Another searched along a river channel near the summit, where the authorities believed the hikers might have passed while trying to escape.

It was a risky mission, and at one point, the search was briefly paused after volcano observers warned that incandescent lava and other volcanic material could be hurled up to 1.5km from the crater.

Police said the hiker group’s guide and porter were being questioned and could face criminal charges for allegedly leading the hikers into a restricted zone.

Like many other volcanos in Indonesia, Mount Dukono is active and has remained at Level 2, the second-lowest of four alert levels, since 2008. While its stark volcanic terrain remains a powerful draw for regional adventurers, its remote location and nearly constant ash emissions present a volatile environment.

Following the increased activity that led to the incident on May 8, the North Halmahera administration completely closed the mountain on the same day.

The local government said it would monitor climbing activities around Mount Dukono and warned that violations of the closure could result in sanctions. BNPB also urged the public to comply with official restrictions around active volcanoes to prevent similar incidents elsewhere in Indonesia.