Jakarta: Indonesia revealed on Saturday that it has located two Singaporean climbers who went missing after the eruption of Mount Dugono on Halmahera Island, but it remains unclear whether they are still alive. The head of Indonesia's rescue team said drone footage had pinpointed the two men near the rim of the volcano's crater, consistent with witness accounts on the ground. A spokesman for the disaster relief agency stated that the two Singaporean climbers were approximately 20 to 30 meters from the main crater rim. Meanwhile, there is still no trace of the three missing Indonesian climbers who have been missing since Friday. Previously, the local police chief revealed that survivors believe all three missing men are dead.
According to Thai News Agency, currently, over 100 rescue workers, soldiers, and police officers, along with two thermal imaging drones, are searching within a 700-meter radius of the volcano's crater, which has spewed ash up to 10 kilometers high. However, rescue operations face difficulties due to dangerous terrain and ongoing eruptions. Previously, 17 people were evacuated (7 Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians). The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely coordinating assistance for affected families. Authorities maintain the alert level at level 3 and prohibit access within a 4-kilometer radius of the crater. Air travel has not been affected by the incident.