Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
Officials said the pair were identified near the rim of the volcano’s main crater using drone surveillance and witness accounts after the eruption, which sent ash as high as 10 km into the sky.
“We have identified the coordinates of their locations. It’s around the crater rim,” said Iwan Ramdani, adding they were found around 20 to 30 metres from the crater edge.
At least 100 rescuers, military and police personnel have been deployed, with operations focused around a 700-metre area near the crater. Thermal drones are also being used due to the extreme conditions.
Disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said evacuations and search efforts remain hampered by ongoing volcanic activity.
Survivors had earlier told police the three missing individuals were likely dead, according to Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu.
Authorities have evacuated 17 people from the area, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians.
Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is working with its embassy in Jakarta and Indonesian authorities to provide assistance to affected citizens and their families.
Indonesia’s volcanology agency has kept Mount Dukono at the third-highest alert level, warning residents and tourists to stay at least 4 km from the crater.
Indonesia sits on the Ring of Fire, a highly active volcanic and seismic zone where eruptions and earthquakes are frequent due to tectonic activity.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most s...
Azerbaijan’s strategic rise is turning it from a transit state into a regional rule-setter, with the Middle Corridor giving Baku growing infl...
The U.S. imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and a senior tri...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
Russia said its air defences downed 180 drones over the Moscow region overnight, with 620 drones reportedly targeting the area, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and a senior trial lawyer at the court Abdoulaye Seye on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Ukraine's parliament has approved Yevhenii Khmara as the country's new defence minister, cementing a key leadership change as Kyiv navigates wartime priorities and a broader government reorganisation.
Thai schools conducted active shooter drills on Wednesday (19 August), as authorities moved to strengthen security measures two weeks after a 14-year-old opened fire at a school and killed at least eight people.
Apple has announced a major overhaul of its business terms for apps distributed in the European Union, introducing a five per cent commission on digital transactions outside its App Store and simplifying its fee structure as it seeks to comply with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
A record number of humanitarian workers were killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025, with the growing use of armed drones contributing to mounting risks in conflict zones, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment