JAKARTA, Indonesia — Two Singapore nationals who had been missing for several days following the eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia have been confirmed dead, local rescue authorities said on Sunday.
According to Indonesia’s rescue agency, the bodies were discovered near the crater rim as search teams continued operations in difficult weather and volcanic conditions.
Rescue agency head Iwan Ramdani told Reuters that evacuation efforts were ongoing but had been complicated by continuing eruptions and heavy rain in the area.
“Evacuation of the bodies is still hampered by eruptions that continue to occur and bad weather,” Iwan said.
Authorities deployed about 150 rescue personnel supported by two thermal drones to search the rugged volcanic terrain around 100 to 150 metres from the crater rim, where the victims were believed to have disappeared.
Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku near the Pacific Ocean, began erupting on Friday, sending volcanic ash up to 10 kilometres into the atmosphere.
Although the eruption later reduced in intensity, officials said volcanic activity continued through Sunday, with fresh ash emissions recorded.
Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported at least four eruptions on Sunday alone, including one that sent ash approximately 1.3 kilometres above the crater.
Authorities have maintained the volcano’s alert status at the third-highest level and prohibited all activity within a four-kilometre radius of the crater.
The area surrounding the volcano remains heavily covered in volcanic ash, further complicating rescue and evacuation operations.
Rescuers earlier recovered backpacks believed to belong to the missing Singaporeans, while Indonesian authorities confirmed on Saturday that one Indonesian hiker who had also gone missing during the eruption had died.
Officials said 17 people survived the incident, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians.The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore said the surviving Singaporean nationals were expected to return home on Sunday.
Authorities had not yet indicated when the bodies of the two deceased Singaporeans would be repatriated.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location along major tectonic fault lines.
Mount Dukono is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has experienced persistent eruptive activity for decades.
