Story perspectives

Rescuers Retrieve Two Singaporean Hikers from Banned Volcano

5/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rescuers recovered Singaporean hikers Timothy Heng and Shahin Abdul Hamid, clasped under a rock on Mount Dukono’s crater rim, after about 20 hikers ignored warnings and a climbing ban.
The trek, organized by Timothy Heng through The Outside agency, was advertised as beginner-friendly despite the ban.
Over 150 rescuers, aided by drones, braved rain and ash to retrieve the bodies, prompting Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to thank the teams.

History

Historical Context

Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, has produced deadly eruptions repeatedly—27 people died in 1994 and a 2010 blast forced 350,000 to flee. Long-standing monitoring by BNPB and the Centre for Volcanology (CVGHM) informs evacuation orders, while Singapore’s foreign ministry now backs tighter climb permits after recent rescue operations in the region.

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Story summary

Rescuers recovered Singaporean hikers Timothy Heng and Shahin Abdul Hamid, clasped under a rock on Mount Dukono’s crater rim, after about 20 hikers ignored warnings and a climbing ban.
The trek, organized by Timothy Heng through The Outside agency, was advertised as beginner-friendly despite the ban.
Over 150 rescuers, aided by drones, braved rain and ash to retrieve the bodies, prompting Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to thank the teams.

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