For Ms. Noraini Ibrahim, May 10 was meant to be a day of maternal reflection and celebration. Instead, it became the day her world fractured. The news that her son, Shahin Muhrez Abdul Hamid, had died atop the volatile slopes of Mount Dukono arrived with a crushing finality that she describes not as a sudden shock, but as a structural failure of her own life.
“Losing Shahin was like the wall I was leaning on was collapsing,” the 64-year-old teacher told the Malay-language daily Berita Harian. To her, Shahin was more than the youngest of four siblings; he was the family’s “cheerleader,” a pious young man whose devotion to his parents and siblings defined his character. In the quiet aftermath of the tragedy, Ms. Noraini described a void that no amount of time can fill, noting that his love and devotion were “irreplaceable.”
Mr. Shahin, 27, was one of two Singaporeans killed when Mount Dukono, an active volcano on the remote Halmahera island in North Maluku, erupted on May 8. The sudden surge of volcanic activity sent a rain of hot rocks and ash down upon a group of hikers, trapping them in a lethal environment of steep terrain and toxic air. The tragedy has left a young family in ruins and raised urgent questions about the communication of safety warnings in some of Indonesia’s most remote trekking destinations.
A Life Cut Short in the Shadow of the Summit
The tragedy is compounded by the timing of Mr. Shahin’s passing. A technician for the energy giant ExxonMobil, he had only recently begun a new chapter of his life. He married Ms. Nurina Iffah Jusmani, 27, in October, and the couple had been planning their future together in a new home in Sengkang.
“God only lent him to me for six months, but in that short period of time, I gained an incomparable love,” Ms. Nurina shared in a message to Berita Harian. Her words reflect a devastating contrast between the excitement of a new marriage and the suddenness of widowhood. “We were supposed to start a new phase in our home in Sengkang, but I accept that God is the best planner.”
Mr. Shahin was an avid nature lover and an experienced climber. His passion for the outdoors had recently taken him to the summit of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, and he had successfully climbed three other mountains in the North Maluku region before the fatal ascent of Mount Dukono. He was expected to return to Singapore on May 10, the same day his family received the confirmation of his death.
The Recovery Operation: A Battle Against the Elements
The eruption on May 8 left three hikers missing: two Singaporeans and one Indonesian woman. The recovery operation was a grueling effort conducted under extreme conditions. More than 150 search and rescue (SAR) personnel navigated unstable terrain, heavy rainfall, and thick layers of volcanic ash, all while the volcano continued to pose a threat of further eruptions.
The Indonesian victim was recovered first, on May 9. Two days later, the bodies of Mr. Shahin and 30-year-old Singaporean Timothy Heng were found lying next to each other near the summit. The image of the two men found together underscores the suddenness of the eruption, which left them little time to seek cover or descend.
The scale of the operation drew high-level diplomatic recognition. Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan expressed deep gratitude to the Indonesian government for the professionalism of the rescue teams. In a statement, Dr. Balakrishnan noted that the dedication of the SAR personnel, despite the “steep and unstable terrain,” provided essential closure to families who had endured days of agonizing uncertainty.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 7 | A group of 20 hikers (9 Singaporeans, 11 Indonesians) begins the ascent. |
| May 8 | Mount Dukono erupts; three hikers are reported missing. |
| May 9 | The body of an Indonesian female hiker is recovered. |
| May 10 | Bodies of Shahin Muhrez Abdul Hamid and Timothy Heng are recovered; survivors return to Singapore. |
| May 11 | Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan issues official condolences and gratitude to Indonesia. |
Warnings Ignored or Unheard?
As the families begin the painful process of grieving, a critical question has emerged regarding the safety of the climb. On April 17, Indonesia’s volcanology agency had issued a formal advisory temporarily banning climbs on Mount Dukono due to increased volcanic activity. The mountain, known for its frequent eruptions, had been flagged as high-risk.
However, there appears to be a disconnect between the official government warnings and the information reaching the ground. The group’s Indonesian mountain guide, Mr. Reza Selang, claimed that neither he nor any residents in the village at the foot of the volcano had informed him that the mountain was off-limits. This discrepancy suggests a potential failure in the communication chain between national monitoring agencies and local operators, a gap that can prove fatal in high-risk environments.
The survivors of the group—seven Singaporeans—returned home on May 10. They arrived at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 on Flight SQ963 from Jakarta, appearing visibly shaken and declining to comment as they were met by airport staff and family. Their return marks the end of the immediate rescue phase, but the beginning of a complex emotional recovery.
For the families of Mr. Shahin and Mr. Heng, the immediate focus is now on the repatriation of their loved ones. Two members of Mr. Shahin’s family have already traveled to Tobelo, North Maluku, to manage the remains and bring him home to Singapore.
The next confirmed step in this tragedy is the official repatriation process and the subsequent forensic reports from Indonesian authorities, which may provide further clarity on the exact cause of death and the sequence of the eruption’s impact on the hikers.
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If you or a loved one are struggling with grief or loss, please contact the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) at 1767 or visit their website for support.
