The search for two missing Singaporean hikers on the slopes of Mount Dukono has narrowed to a harrowing focus: two tiny mounds of volcanic sand near the crater’s rim. These GPS-marked locations, situated just three meters from where the body of an Indonesian woman was recovered, now represent the most likely resting place of the missing climbers.
The operation, conducted in one of Indonesia’s most volatile volcanic environments, has become a race against both time and the elements. Following an eruption on May 8 that showered the summit with hot rocks and ash, search and rescue teams have battled torrential rains and unstable terrain to reach the high-altitude disaster zone on the remote island of Halmahera.
For the 150 personnel deployed by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the mission is as much a struggle against the geography of North Halmahera as it is against the volcano itself. Heavy overnight rains have transformed the narrow access roads into deep mires of mud, stalling logistics and forcing rescuers to navigate dense forests and plantations on foot or by motorcycle, often turning back when paths became impassable.
The Battle Against a Volatile Landscape
The logistical challenge begins long before the crater rim. From the volcano monitoring post in Mamuya village, rescuers must traverse approximately 10 kilometers to reach the first observation post at the foot of the mountain. Much of this route consists of rough dirt tracks that, under the current weather conditions, have become flooding hazards.
Even for those who reach the higher elevations, the environment remains hostile. Mochamad Thilio, an officer from the Brimob police mobile brigade coordinating communications, noted that teams reaching Post 5—roughly one kilometer from the crater—have been forced to retreat toward shelters due to sudden flooding and persistent rain. This instability is compounded by the volcano’s intermittent eruptions, which continue to discharge hot ash and debris, threatening the safety of the recovery teams.
The grim nature of the search was underscored on May 9, when rescuers discovered an Indonesian woman approximately 50 meters from the crater rim. The recovery was harrowing; after hours of combing through deep volcanic sand, the team found only the lower half of her body visible above the ash. Her remains were transported via stretcher through moss-covered forests and over fallen logs to a hospital in Tobelo.
A Precision Search Amidst Chaos
Basarnas has divided its 150-strong force into four specialized search and rescue units. Their current objective is a focused area extending 1.25 kilometers from the point where the hikers were last seen. The operation is now heavily reliant on coordinates provided by Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), which has identified the two aforementioned sand mounds as high-priority targets.
Iwan Ramdani, head of the Ternate search and rescue office, emphasized that while the priority is to locate the two foreign nationals, the safety of the rescuers remains paramount. The intermittent nature of Mount Dukono’s activity means that a stable search area can become a danger zone in a matter of minutes.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 17 | Local authorities impose a formal climbing ban on Mount Dukono. |
| May 7 | A group of 20 hikers (9 Singaporeans, 11 Indonesians) begins their trek. |
| May 8 | Volcano erupts; hikers near the summit are hit by ash and debris. |
| May 9 | First victim (Indonesian woman) recovered near the crater rim. |
| May 10 | Search narrows to two specific GPS-marked volcanic mounds. |
Warnings Ignored and the Cost of Adventure
The incident has raised serious questions regarding the hikers’ decision to ascend the mountain. The group of 20 had proceeded with their trek on May 7 despite a standing climbing ban enacted on April 17. They entered a 4-kilometer “no-go” exclusion zone surrounding the crater—a zone that volcanologists had recently expanded from 3 kilometers due to increased activity.
The disparity between the risk and the reward has become a focal point of the aftermath. While seven of the Singaporean hikers were successfully evacuated and transitioned through Jakarta to return home, the two missing individuals remained trapped in the impact zone of the May 8 eruption.
The current constraints facing the mission include:
- Atmospheric Conditions: Heavy rain causing flash floods and mudslides on access roads.
- Volcanic Activity: Intermittent eruptions producing hot ash and volcanic debris.
- Terrain: Deep volcanic sand that can bury victims and hinder movement.
As the operation enters its critical phase, the focus remains on the two mounds of material. The BNPB has indicated that these locations are “strongly suspected” to be linked to the missing hikers, leaving families and officials waiting for a final, definitive recovery.
The next phase of the operation will depend on a window of volcanic stability and a break in the rain, which would allow Basarnas units to conduct a detailed excavation of the marked GPS coordinates. Official updates are expected from the Ternate search and rescue office as they attempt to finalize the recovery effort.
We invite readers to share their thoughts or experiences regarding mountain safety in the comments below.
