Four days after the tragic eruption of Mount Dukono, which claimed the lives of two Singaporean climbers and one Indonesian trekker, mountain guide Reza Selang remains deeply traumatized by the event.
Reza was the lead guide responsible for a group of 20 people, including the three victims, who ventured toward the summit of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera, North Maluku, on Friday (08/05). While he managed to survive the disaster, he was a first-hand witness to the moment a massive volcanic projectile was hurled from the crater, striking two of his clients directly in front of him.
“To this day, I am still profoundly shaken,” he shared during a phone interview on Monday morning.
The 35-year-old guide recounted that the group arrived in Mamuya Village on Thursday (07/05) around noon. They proceeded to the hiking starting point and reached the shelter five hours later. According to Reza, there were no visible signs of volcanic activity from Mount Dukono that evening.
The following morning, the group began their final ascent at 05:30 WIT, reaching the vicinity of the summit by 07:20 WIT. “When I monitored the crater with a drone, there was no visible activity. There wasn’t even any smoke. It was remarkably calm,” Reza explained. Trusting the conditions, he allowed the group to move closer to the summit on the condition that they kept their visit brief and descended immediately.
The summit party included nine foreign nationals, two members of Reza’s team, and three local guests. At the moment of the eruption, Reza remained further down the slope to operate his drone. “At 07:40, I was filming with the drone from a distance. By 07:41, the volcano suddenly erupted,” he recalled.
He described two distinct explosions occurring within less than a minute. “The first blast released smoke. Seconds later, a follow-up eruption occurred, and that is when volcanic material was violently ejected,” he said. As the climbers scrambled for safety, Reza used his drone to check for anyone left behind. “I saw someone lying motionless near the summit.”
That individual was later identified as Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid, a Singaporean citizen. Reza noted that another climber, Timothy Heng, had initially descended but bravely turned back toward the summit to help Shahin. “He had already run down, but he went back because he knew his friend was still there,” Reza said. Seizing the moment, Reza ran up to join Timothy.
Together, they attempted to evacuate the unconscious Shahin by dragging him down the trail amidst a literal rain of volcanic rocks. “I held his legs, and Timo held his hands. We were dragging him down,” Reza recounted. However, as they tried to maneuver through the falling debris, the crater spat out a massive boulder that bounced off the ground and hurtled toward them.
“The rock was about two meters wide. I screamed ‘stone!’, but Timo turned and, in a split second, he simply hugged Shahin to shield him,” Reza said. He then watched in horror as the boulder struck both men. “It hit everything—their heads, their bodies—the rock was just too large.”
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Reza admitted he was paralyzed by shock after witnessing the impact. “I just froze. I saw two people I had grown to know during this journey getting crushed by that rock,” he said. It wasn’t until he heard someone calling his name that he snapped out of his trance and ran toward a safe zone.
“I immediately notified my hiking community and my family group,” he said. Amidst the chaos, it was discovered that another participant was missing. On Saturday (09/05), the body of Angel Krishela Pradita, a climber from Ternate, was recovered. The bodies of Timothy and Shahin were eventually evacuated on Sunday (10/05).
‘I want to bow at the feet of the victims’ parents’
On the day of the recovery, a joint SAR team consisting of Basarnas, the military (TNI), and the police mobilized to the site. However, the evacuation was hampered by continuous volcanic activity. “The mountain kept erupting with very short intervals, still ejecting material,” Reza said. Despite suffering burns on his legs from volcanic debris, Reza insisted on staying at the site to assist in the recovery efforts.
He expressed deep remorse over the tragedy. “This is the first time I have experienced something like this, and I feel immense guilt toward the victims and their families,” he said. After a long pause, he added, “I feel like I want to go there and bow at the feet of the victims’ parents to ask for their forgiveness.”
Reza is haunted by “what-ifs.” “I have so many regrets. If only we hadn’t climbed that day, if only I hadn’t accepted this job, if only Dukono wasn’t our final destination,” he lamented.
Undergoing Police Investigation
On Friday night, after the initial search was temporarily halted, Reza was taken to a hospital before being immediately brought in for police questioning. “From the hospital, without any break, we were taken to the Police Station to provide statements and complete the official report (BAP),” he explained.
The investigation is currently ongoing. “I have to accept whatever legal consequences may come, whether I am ready or not,” Reza stated. While his current status is that of a witness, he and his team have been barred from leaving Tobelo, North Halmahera. “On the first day, I was asked to stay at the station. By the second day, I was released but told not to go anywhere. My next examination schedule is still pending; they told me to just stand by.”
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Reza’s account was corroborated by the Head of Criminal Investigation at North Halmahera Police, Iptu Rinaldi Anwar. He confirmed that two men, identified by their initials MRS and JA, are undergoing intensive questioning. These individuals are reportedly affiliated with the “Anak Esa” social media account, which promoted the hiking packages under the “Ayo Baronda” program.
While both remain witnesses, investigators are scrutinizing the role of every individual involved in organizing the climb. North Halmahera Police Chief, AKBP Erlichson Pasaribu, emphasized that there will be no tolerance for negligence that leads to the loss of life. “We will investigate the guides, the person in charge, and the porters. Everyone will be processed legally. We are launching a full investigation,” Erlichson declared.
Unaware of the Warning
Reza explained that he was first contacted by Timothy in the middle of last year to organize a trip to several mountains in North Maluku. “He expressed interest in coming to Dukono and asked if I could arrange the trip,” Reza said. While Dukono was the primary target, Reza had also guided them to Mount Gamkonora and Mount Tabaru earlier in the journey.
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The popularity of Mount Dukono has surged recently, driven by viral social media videos. Reza admitted that his own viral footage of the mountain had previously attracted international attention. “Since my video went viral, several foreign tourists have reached out to me,” said Reza, who has been an active climber since 2010 and started a professional guiding service in 2023.
Regarding the safety of the climb, Reza claimed he was completely unaware that Mount Dukono had been officially closed since April 17. “I only found out after we descended and the incident had already happened,” he said. He noted that he had hired local residents from Mamuya Village, including members of the local youth group and transport drivers, to facilitate the trek.
“Without intending to blame anyone, I never received information regarding the closure on April 17—not even from the Mamuya residents,” he argued. Furthermore, Reza stated he saw no warning signs or prohibitions near the crater during the ascent. “We hike often, and in Indonesia, even when a mountain is at Level 2 (Waspada), like Rinjani, hiking activities are usually still permitted,” he said, explaining why they proceeded despite the volcano’s alert status.
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Summary
Lead guide Reza Selang is reeling from trauma after a sudden eruption at Mount Dukono killed two Singaporean climbers and one Indonesian trekker. Despite initial assessments showing no volcanic activity, two massive explosions occurred while the group was near the summit, resulting in the tragic deaths of Timothy Heng and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid. Reza, who attempted to save the victims during the disaster, expressed profound remorse and deep regret for the tragic outcome of the expedition.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, placing travel restrictions on the guides involved as they determine potential negligence. While Reza maintains he was unaware of the official closure of Mount Dukono, police are scrutinizing all aspects of the climb’s organization and safety protocols. Currently, the investigation remains ongoing to address accountability for the fatal incident.