• Rescue efforts are intensifying in Indonesia as the search for the last missing hiker following the eruption of Mount Marapi continues. Three days after the disaster, hopes are fading for the missing person.

Desperate Search for Missing Hiker Continues After Indonesia Volcano Eruption

AGAM, Indonesia – Rescue workers in Indonesia are racing against time to locate the final hiker who vanished following a devastating volcanic eruption that claimed the lives of 22 others. Three days have passed since the tragedy struck, and hopes of finding the missing hiker are dwindling.

On Sunday, Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra unleashed a towering ash plume that reached an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), surpassing the height of the volcano itself. At the time of the eruption, 75 individuals were trekking in the vicinity.

Hundreds of rescuers have been tirelessly scouring the mountainside for the missing hikers. The arduous search operation has been hindered by subsequent eruptions and inclement weather, forcing rescuers to seek intermittent shelter.

"There have been numerous rumors and unclear reports," Abdul Malik, head of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, informed reporters. "Let us be clear: we are still unaware of the whereabouts of this one victim."

This statement contradicts an earlier announcement made by Suharyono, the West Sumatra police chief, who told reporters late on Tuesday that the last hiker was presumed dead. However, ground-level rescue officials have yet to corroborate this claim.

"23 individuals are believed to have perished," Suharyono declared. "We all prayed for their rescue, but to no avail. God and nature have spoken."

As of Wednesday morning, the volcano, aptly named "Mountain of Fire," continued to spew a plume of smoke into the sky, according to an AFP journalist.

Terrifying Moments for Survivors

Fifty-two individuals have been rescued since the eruption, and some of the survivors have recounted their harrowing experiences.

"I was zigzagging, descending around 30 to 40 meters" towards a trekking post, Ridho, 22, related to AFP from his hospital bed.

"The eruption was deafening. I glanced back and then bolted away, as everyone else did. Some people jumped and fell. I sought refuge behind rocks; there were no trees."

Suharyono revealed on Tuesday evening that two of the 75 hikers were police officers. One survived, while the other is suspected to have died.

"They simply wanted to see the volcano; they were off duty," he explained.

"One of them survived with a broken arm and is receiving medical attention. We suspect the other one is deceased. Let's wait for confirmation."

Hendra Gunawan, the head of Indonesia's volcanology agency, stated that Marapi has been at the second level of a four-tier alert system since 2011, and a three-kilometer exclusion zone has been in place around its crater.

He appeared to place blame on the hikers for venturing too close to the crater, emphasizing that the agency advised against any activity in that area.

The official number of hikers provided by authorities was derived from an online registration system, but officials cautioned that there may have been more hikers using illegal routes.

"There may have been unregistered hikers, and sometimes illegal hikers didn't want to pay; they just climbed," Suharyono remarked.

Indonesia is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plates collide.