Indonesian rescuers on Saturday said they have located two Singaporean nationals who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on the Pacific island of Halmahera, though it remains unclear if the pair survived.
"We have identified the coordinates of their locations. Its around the crater rim," Iwan Ramdani, head of Indonesia's rescue agency, said. He added that the positions were identified through drone surveillance and matched witness reports.
Officials at the disaster mitigation agency gave a more specific range for their proximity to the crater. "Both appeared to be 20 to 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) from the rim of the main crater," spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.
Rescue teams have not yet been able to locate an Indonesian who was reported missing since the volcano in North Maluku province began erupting on Friday, sending ash plumes reportedly as high as 10 km (6 miles). Survivors have told police that three people who were missing had died, police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said on Friday.
At least 100 personnel from rescue units, the military and police have been deployed to the area, and two thermal drones are being used to assist the search. The coordinated effort has concentrated on terrain around the crater, covering an area of roughly 700 metres, according to Iwan.
Search and evacuation operations have been complicated by the island's extreme terrain and continuing eruptive activity, hampering access to the areas of greatest concern.
Authorities reported that 17 people were evacuated on Friday - seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians - as teams worked to move residents and visitors away from immediate danger zones. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Jakarta said they were coordinating with Indonesian authorities to collect information and provide consular support to affected Singaporeans and their families.
The national volcanology agency has maintained the third-highest alert level for Mount Dukono, Lana Saria, the agency's head, said. Officials have advised residents and tourists not to undertake any activities within 4 km (2.5 miles) of the crater.
There were no reports of flight disruptions linked to the eruption. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an area known for heightened seismic and volcanic activity.
Key takeaways
- Two Singaporean nationals were located near Mount Dukonos crater rim by drone surveillance, but their condition is unknown.
- Search operations involve at least 100 rescuers, military and police personnel, and two thermal drones, focusing on a roughly 700-metre area around the crater.
- The volcanology agency keeps Mount Dukono at the third-highest alert level and warns against activity within 4 km of the crater; 17 people were evacuated.
Ongoing uncertainties
- Unclear survival status of the two located Singaporeans and of an Indonesian reported missing - this limits clarity on humanitarian outcomes.
- Continued eruptions and difficult terrain impede search and evacuation efforts, which may delay confirmation of casualties or rescues.
- Potential local disruptions remain uncertain, though there were no immediate reports of flight cancellations.