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Bodies of Two Hikers Recovered After Indonesia Volcano Eruption
Rescuers recovered the bodies of two Singaporean men on Sunday, two days after Mount Dukono erupted on the remote island of Halmahera. The men were part of a group of 20 hikers who ignored safety restrictions and were caught in the blast that sent ash 6 miles into the air. Officials have now closed the search operation and urged compliance with the 2.5-mile exclusion zone around the crater.
May 9, 9:08 AM·2m read3 sources
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Rescuers on Indonesia’s remote island of Halmahera found the bodies of two Singaporean hikers on Sunday, completing the recovery of all three victims killed when Mount Dukono erupted two days earlier. The bodies of the men, ages 30 and 27, were located a few yards from where an Indonesian woman was found dead on Saturday, all within about 165 feet of the main crater rim.
Officials said the bodies were covered by thick layers of densely packed volcanic material that had slowed rescue efforts. “The bodies were buried under deep, densely packed volcanic material that is difficult to dig through,” a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency said.
” The three were part of a group of 20 hikers who set out to climb the 4,445-foot volcano in North Maluku province in defiance of safety restrictions. The volcano erupted early Friday, spewing a thick ash column that rose about 6 miles into the air and stranding the group.
Seventeen hikers were evacuated hours after the eruption, including seven Singaporean nationals. Ten of those evacuated suffered minor burns, while two joined the rescue operation and provided information that helped locate the missing. Local search and rescue officials said operations on Sunday were monitored by volcanology experts as the mountain continued to spew ash, hot material and glowing rocks.
“The search operation was repeatedly disrupted by Mt. Dukono’s continued volcanic activity,” a local search and rescue official said. Mount Dukono has been on the second-highest alert level since 2008. Authorities have banned all activities within a 2.5-mile danger zone around the crater, in line with recommendations from the volcanology agency.
The national disaster management agency warned that entering restricted zones could result in legal sanctions. The bodies of the three victims were transported to an emergency response post and then to Tobelo Regional Hospital for identification. Officials said the search and rescue operation has now been closed.
