Search for dead as volcano eruption kills 15
Print Edition
Indonesian officials searched through thick ash for bodies yesterday, after Mount Sinabung volcano erupted, killing at least 15 people.
Dark, searing clouds engulfed victims during the eruption on Saturday, leaving rescuers with little hope of finding survivors as they searched through ash up to 30 centimeters.
Officials said about 170 people armed with chainsaws and oxygen apparatus spread out through the destruction in Sukameriah village, just 2.7 kilometers from Sinabung’s crater, yesterday before the search was called off.
“There’s no sign of human life. All the crops were gone. Many houses were damaged and those still standing were covered in thick white ash. It was hard to walk in ash which nearly reached my calves,” Gito, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said.
“We didn’t find bodies but we picked up a bag belonging to one of the victims. The cellphone was ringing,” he added.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency, was unable to put a figure to the number of people still missing, but said there was a “chance” that the death toll might rise.
Residents had been evacuated from the village, located in the “red zone” around the volcano where human activities are strictly banned.
“It’s very dangerous and completely out of bounds. But many of the tourists still secretly went to the area to take photographs,” disaster official Tri Budiarto said.
The search was halted yesterday afternoon, said Lieutenant Colonel Asep Sukarna, who led the operation.
“After two visits to the village, the volcanology agency recommended that we stop for safety reasons. Visibility is low because of the thick smog and we could hear tremors,” he said.
They hoped to continue the search today, he said.
Sukarna was pessimistic about finding anyone alive.
“I doubt it would be possible for anyone to survive the heat clouds yesterday. We haven’t found more bodies,” he said.
The volcano on the western island of Sumatra started erupting in September, but on Saturday spewed hot rocks and ash 2,000 metres into the air, blanketing the surrounding countryside with grey dust.
Fourteen people — mainly local tourists — were killed by heat clouds.
A 24-year-old man accompanying his father to pay respects at the graves of relatives died from his injuries early yesterday.
Two people are being treated for serious burns.
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