Indonesian rescuers find two Singaporean hikers' bodies after Dukono eruption

Seven Singaporean survivors were expected to return home on May 10, according to the Singapore foreign ministry.

Staff from the Singapore embassy in Jakarta were in Halmahera to coordinate with rescuers and facilitate the repatriation of the seven Singaporean survivors, who were expected to return home on May 10.

The remains were transported to a local hospital for identification, after which they would be handed over to the victims' families.

Rescuers retrieved the remains of two Singaporean hikers. The bodies were found not far from the Indonesian hiker's remains found a day earlier. The evacuation faced obstacles due to the victims being buried under volcanic materials of significant thickness and depth. The search operation was officially ended.

The remains of an Indonesian hiker were found a day after the eruption as search and rescue teams combed the area.

Local police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said the hikers had ignored social media appeals and warning signs put up at the entrance of the trail to stay away.

Mount Dukono on Halmahera island erupted, sending an ash tower 10 kilometres above its peak. Three climbers were killed and seventeen other hikers were brought down safely, including seven Singaporeans.

Authorities established a four-kilometre exclusion zone around the crater since December 2024. Dukono has been on level two of the four-tier alert system since 2008.