Two Singaporean nationals reported missing following the eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia’s Halmahera Island have been confirmed dead on Sunday.
Local rescue chief Iwan Ramdani said the bodies of both victims were found in a tightly held embrace beneath rock debris near the crater rim of the volcano.
He added that recovery efforts were extremely challenging due to difficult terrain and continuous heavy rainfall in the area.
“The bodies have been transported to a local hospital for post-mortem examination,” he said.
Authorities also confirmed that ongoing volcanic activity further hampered rescue operations, with intermittent eruptions occurring during the search.
Around 150 rescuers, supported by two thermal drones, were deployed early Sunday, focusing on areas between 100 to 150 metres from the crater edge.
Mount Dukono, located in Indonesia’s North Maluku province near the Pacific Ocean, began erupting on Friday, sending ash plumes up to 10 kilometres into the sky before continuing at lower intensity in subsequent days.
Iwan said the search and rescue operation has now been officially called off.
In a related development, one Indonesian climber previously reported missing was confirmed dead on Saturday.
A total of 17 people were affected by the incident, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians, with all others confirmed to have survived.
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the seven surviving Singaporeans are expected to return home on Sunday.
However, arrangements for the repatriation of the two deceased victims have yet to be finalised.
Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported at least four eruptions by Sunday, with one sending ash as high as 1.3 kilometres into the atmosphere. The agency has maintained the volcano’s alert level at the third-highest category and imposed a strict exclusion zone within a four-kilometre radius of the crater.
