Two Singaporeans confirmed dead in Indonesia volcano eruption, official says
Local search and rescue chief Iwan Ramdani told CNA that the bodies have been found and are in a safe zone, but rain is delaying evacuation.
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JAKARTA: Two Singaporeans who had been reported missing have been confirmed dead in the eruption of Mount Dukono on Indonesia's Halmahera island, the head of the local rescue agency said on Sunday (May 10).
Rescuers found the bodies around the crater rim, and evacuation was under way, agency head Iwan Ramdani told Reuters.
"Evacuation of the bodies is still hampered by eruptions that continue to occur and bad weather," Iwan said, adding rain was falling in the area.
He also told CNA that the bodies are in a safe zone.
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The two hikers had previously been identified as Heng Wen Qiang Timothy, 30, and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid, 27, when authorities released a list of survivors and those missing.
Rescuers also found backpacks suspected to belong to the two Singaporeans.
Some 150 personnel with two thermal drones have been deployed since Sunday morning.
North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said several local guides are under probe and could face possible legal action for bringing a group of Singaporean tourists and Indonesian nationals close to the crater, despite the area within a 4km radius being closed for any activities.
"The guides are currently under investigation for alleged negligence resulting in another person's death," Erlichson told CNA.
He added that the offence carries a possible jail term of up to five years under Indonesia's Disaster Management Law and other public safety regulations.
No one has been detained as of Sunday, said Erlichson.
Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province bordering the Pacific Ocean, began erupting on Friday, spewing ash as high as 10km. It has continued to erupt at a lower scale ever since.
On Saturday, rescuers recovered the body of an Indonesian national believed to be a woman named Angel, said Iwan. The body will be brought to a regional hospital for identification.
A local tour guide, citing fellow guides, said that the victims had apparently taken a faster but more dangerous route up Mount Dukono, although it remains unclear whether the path was unofficial.
Seventeen people, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians, survived the incident.
The seven Singaporeans evacuated will return home on Sunday, said Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
Indonesia's volcanology agency reported at least three eruptions as of Sunday morning, with the highest spewing 1.3 km of volcanic ash, it said in a statement.
The agency is still maintaining the third-highest alert level for Mount Dukono and bans any activities within 4 km of the crater.
Additional reporting by Denny Armandhanu and Nivell Rayda.
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