A joint search and rescue operation in North Maluku has concluded following the grim discovery of two Singaporean climbers who disappeared during an eruption of Mount Dukono. The victims were located Sunday afternoon, huddled together and pinned beneath a large boulder, bringing a close to a high-stakes recovery mission conducted under extreme weather conditions.
The recovery effort, led by the Ternate Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, spanned several days of treacherous navigation across the crater rim of the active volcano. The discovery of the two Singaporean nationals follows the recovery of an Indonesian climber’s body on Saturday, bringing the confirmed death toll of the incident to three.
Ternate SAR Office Head Iwan Ramdani confirmed that the bodies were located at approximately 1:00 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT) on Sunday. The victims were found at coordinates 1°42’9.90″N / 127°52’48.50″E, roughly 13 meters north of the point where rescuers first detected an emergency satellite signal.
A race against the elements
The operation was characterized by a volatile mix of geological and meteorological hazards. Rescuers were forced to operate in heavy rain and navigate “high-risk terrain” while the volcano remained active, posing a constant threat of further eruptions or landslides.
The recovery process involved transporting the deceased from the steep, unstable terrain of the crater rim down to the primary command post in Mamuya Village. According to officials, the body bags reached the command post at 5:43 p.m. WIT on Sunday before being transported to the Tobelo Regional Public Hospital (RSUD) for formal autopsies.
The search began after the National Search and Rescue Agency’s Command Center intercepted an emergency SOS signal transmitted from a satellite messaging device on May 8. The signal, sent from coordinates 1°42’13.7″N 127°52’50.2″E, alerted authorities that climbers were in distress near the summit. The emergency was later corroborated by the head of Mamuya Village, who reported that several climbers had been injured during the eruption.
Timeline of the recovery operation
| Date/Time | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| May 8 | Satellite SOS signal received by Command Center | Search Initiated |
| Saturday | Body of Indonesian climber recovered | Ongoing |
| Sunday, 1:00 p.m. | Two Singaporean climbers located under boulder | Recovery Phase |
| Sunday, 5:43 p.m. | Victims arrive at Mamuya Village command post | Operation Closed |
The volatility of Mount Dukono
Mount Dukono, located in the North Halmahera district, is known among volcanologists for its persistent activity. Unlike volcanoes that have long dormant periods, Dukono has been in a state of near-constant eruption for decades, frequently emitting ash clouds and experiencing small-scale pyroclastic flows.
For climbers and hikers, this constant activity creates a deceptive environment where conditions can shift from stable to lethal in minutes. The presence of a satellite messaging device in this instance proved critical for the SAR team, allowing them to narrow their search radius to a matter of meters despite the blinding rain and ash.
Iwan Ramdani praised the personnel involved in the mission, noting that the team worked to their full capacity despite the “foul weather” and the ongoing threat of volcanic activity. With the recovery of the final missing persons, the Ternate SAR Office has officially closed the operation.
The identities of the deceased have not been publicly released pending the completion of autopsies and formal notification of next of kin. The Singaporean embassy is expected to coordinate the repatriation of the remains following the medical examinations at Tobelo Regional Public Hospital.
The next confirmed step in the process is the completion of the forensic autopsies at RSUD Tobelo, which will determine the exact cause of death and the sequence of events leading to the climbers being trapped.
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