The remains of two tourists who went missing following a volcanic eruption in Indonesia have been discovered embracing each other. The individuals, both from Singapore, were located entwined beneath rubble after Mount Dukono on Halmahera island erupted. Recovering the bodies proved challenging due to treacherous terrain and heavy rainfall, as stated by Iwan Ramdani, head of Indonesia’s rescue agency.
The deceased have been transported to a local medical facility for further examination. Meanwhile, the volcano has continued to emit ash since Friday, complicating evacuation efforts. Reports indicate that debris reached heights of up to six miles during the peak of the eruption.
Despite social media warnings, some individuals persisted in attempting to climb the volcano, driven by a desire to create online content, according to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu. He noted that despite knowing the mountain was off-limits due to its high alert status, they disregarded the prohibition.
A search operation conducted on Sunday morning involved approximately 150 individuals utilizing thermal drones to scour the mountain’s crater rim. It was confirmed on Saturday that one missing Indonesian hiker had perished, while 17 individuals, comprising seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians, survived the ordeal.
The Foreign Ministry of the country announced that the seven rescued Singaporeans will be repatriated on Sunday. The timeline for returning the bodies of the deceased individuals remains uncertain.
On Sunday, Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported four additional eruptions, one of which propelled ash nearly a mile into the atmosphere. Activity within 2.5 miles of the crater has been prohibited, as Mount Dukono is now at the third-highest alert level.