Indonesian rescue officials confirmed on Sunday that two Singaporean nationals who had been missing since the eruption of Mount Dukono were found dead near the volcano's crater rim. The local rescue agency said recovery teams located the bodies, and evacuation efforts were underway despite active eruptions and poor weather conditions.
Operational challenges at the scene
Agency head Iwan Ramdani said, "Evacuation of the bodies is still hampered by eruptions that continue to occur and bad weather," adding that rain was falling in the area. He reported that some 150 personnel and two thermal drones had been deployed since Sunday morning to assist the search, with operations concentrated roughly 100-150 metres from the crater rim.
Rescuers have reported that the immediate area around the crater remains covered in volcanic ash. The agency described the search area as being about 1.25 km from the victims' last known location, and teams have recovered backpacks believed to belong to the two missing Singaporeans.
Scope of the eruption and local measures
Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province, began erupting on Friday and has sent ash plumes as high as 10 km. While the volcano has continued to erupt at a lower intensity since that initial activity, Indonesia's volcanology agency reported at least four eruptions as of Sunday, including one with an ash column reaching 1.3 km.
The volcanology agency has maintained the volcano at the third-highest alert level and has issued a ban on activities within 4 km of the crater.
Survivors and consular action
Authorities said that 17 people survived the incident: seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians. Singapore's Foreign Ministry stated that the seven surviving Singaporean nationals are scheduled to fly home on Sunday. It remains unclear when the bodies of the two deceased Singaporeans will be repatriated.
Separately, rescuers had earlier confirmed the death of one Indonesian hiker who had been reported missing. The discovery of multiple victims and personal effects has focused rescue efforts on the rim area despite the ongoing hazards from ash, rain and intermittent eruptions.
Continuing hazards and response posture
Rescue personnel continue to operate under constrained conditions as volcanic activity and weather impede access to the crater rim. Thermal drones are being used to assist search teams, while the elevated alert level and the 4 km exclusion zone reflect the continued risk to people in the vicinity of Mount Dukono.
Note: The authorities have provided the operational figures and situational descriptions cited in this report; timelines for repatriation and the full conclusion of recovery operations have not been confirmed.