An eruption from Mount Dukono, an active volcano located in North Halmahera, tragically impacted a group of 20 climbers on Friday, May 8th, at 07:41 AM WIT. This sudden volcanic activity triggered immediate emergency responses in the region.
Following the eruption, a swift rescue operation successfully evacuated 15 individuals to safety. Among these rescued climbers were seven Singaporean citizens, highlighting the international nature of the incident. All 15 individuals are currently receiving necessary medical attention, a crucial step in their recovery.
Iwan Ramdani, Head of Basarnas Ternate, confirmed the situation, stating, “Fifteen people have been rescued. Of that number, eight are foreign nationals and seven are Indonesian citizens, and they are now receiving medical treatment.” His statement underscored the prompt efforts to care for those affected.
While significant progress has been made, the joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team continues its intensive efforts to locate five individuals who remained unaccounted for. This group initially comprised two foreign nationals and three Indonesian citizens. “We are still diligently searching for those who have not yet been found,” Ramdani emphasized, reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the rescue teams.
In a remarkable turn during the ongoing search, two Indonesian climbers who were initially among the missing were found safe. These two individuals, demonstrating incredible resilience and a spirit of solidarity, bravely opted to join the SAR team to assist in the search for the remaining three victims. This brings the current active search focus to three named individuals.
To coordinate the extensive relief efforts, the North Maluku Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the North Halmahera BPBD have established an integrated disaster emergency response post. This central hub is facilitating seamless coordination among the Mount Dukono Monitoring Post, Basarnas, medical personnel, military (TNI) and police (Polri) forces, and the local community, ensuring a unified approach to the crisis.
The names of the Singaporean citizens successfully evacuated are:
- Toh Yu Ming Eugene (male, 30 years old)
- Ong Shilin Selene (female, 37 years old)
- Phoebe Lim (female, 33 years old)
- Loh Hui En Iris (female, 31 years old)
- Tan Jia Yi Geraldine (female, 30 years old)
- Lee Yi Xuan Venessa (female, 30 years old)
- Lim Shan De (male, 29 years old)
The names of the Indonesian citizens successfully evacuated are:
- Bahtiar Badar (male, 24 years old)
- Yusril (male, 23 years old)
- Sahrul (male, 26 years old)
- Ahmad (male, 22 years old)
- Hairudin (male, 26 years old)
- Fiki Nafila (female, 27 years old)
- Riska Isbar (female, 29 years old)
- Sudin Juanga (male, 48 years old)
The individuals currently being searched for are:
- Heng Wen Qiang Timothy (male, 30 years old, foreign national)
- Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid (male, 27 years old, foreign national)
- Enjel (female, Indonesian citizen)
As the search continues, Reza Selang (male, Indonesian citizen) and Jailan Ayub (male, Indonesian citizen), who were safely located, have actively joined the search and rescue efforts to help find the three remaining climbers.
Summary
Mount Dukono, an active volcano in North Halmahera, erupted on Friday, May 8th, at 07:41 AM WIT, impacting a group of 20 climbers. A swift rescue operation successfully evacuated 15 individuals to safety, including seven Singaporean and eight Indonesian citizens, all of whom are now receiving medical attention. Iwan Ramdani, Head of Basarnas Ternate, confirmed these immediate rescue efforts.
The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team continues its intensive efforts to locate three remaining individuals: two foreign nationals and one Indonesian citizen. Two Indonesian climbers initially among the missing were found safe and bravely opted to join the SAR team to assist in the ongoing search. An integrated disaster emergency response post has been established by regional agencies to coordinate all relief efforts among various units.