Indonesian guide who led S’poreans up Mount Dukono says he wasn't notified of climbing prohibitions on active volcano: ST

The Indonesian guide who brought hikers up Indonesia's Mount Dukono that erupted on May 8, 2026, insisted he had done nothing illegal despite apologising for the deaths of two Singaporean climbers and one Indonesian climber.

The Singaporeans who died following the eruption are 30-year-old Heng Wen Qiang Timothy and 27-year-old Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid.

Heng is believed to have rushed back to the crater to help Shahin, who had collapsed.

The two Singaporeans lost their lives after a large boulder pinned them down

They were part of a group comprising 11 Indonesians and nine Singaporeans.

Not notified of climbing prohibitions: Guide

BBC News had previously reported that the guide, Reza Selang, said: "I feel very guilty toward the victims and their families."

"I feel like I want to go to Singapore and kneel at the victims' parents' feet. I want to apologise," he added.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Reza said he had not been notified of any prohibitions against climbing the active volcano.

He said other guides had led climbers up the peak about 1,200m above sea level in previous weeks.

Reza told ST that a local villager from the nearby village of Mamuya, which is about 15km from the volcano, assured him there had not been signs of recent activity before their ascent.

Reza had apparently relied solely on the villager, ST reported.

Local authorities had imposed a climbing ban on Apr. 17 after increased volcanic activity.

The volcano alert status had also been set at the second of Indonesia's four volcanic alert levels.

In addition, the authorities closed the mountain to visitors, noting that all activities, which included hiking, were prohibited within a 4km radius of the Malupang Warirang crater, ST reported.

The Volcanology Observation Post in Mamuya had a notice regarding the ban.

'Did not get information': Guide

Reza said he wanted to "ask for forgiveness" from the victims' friends and families, he told ST.

He added: "We did not receive the letter warning not to enter Mount Dukono before our climb."

Reza said a guide he hired from Mamuya village did not inform him of the increased volcanic activity, adding that "the problem is that the community of climbers and different trip providers did not receive the same information".

"We did not get information about the eruption," he added.

Mamuya trail

ST reported that tourists usually fly to the neighbouring Ternate island where Reza is from before taking a ferry to Sofifi, a town on Halmahera island.

They then travel for around four hours by car north to Tobelo, after which they they head to Mamuya before starting the ascent, according to ST.

There are two official entrances to Mount Dukono, via Mamuya and Ruko villages, which have checkpoints dotted across the trails, ST reported.

Reza said he set out with the group he was guiding at about 12pm on May 7, where they made their ascent early on May 8 and took the Mamuya trail, starting from the village and stretching for about 15km.

Alternative route

There are also alternative routes, ST reported.

A 48-year-old mountain guide, Alex Djangu, took a different route from Ruko village, about 8km from Mamuya.

This led him to the east of Mount Dukono, where he was guiding two German tourists then and could see what appeared to be the group of Singaporeans hiking up the mountain, ST reported.

He said the alternative route allows visitors to observe the crater's rim safely from 4km away and he takes about 100 foreign tourists there per year.

According to a social media video, climbers could be seen fleeing to safety, and one could be heard yelling that "Angel was left behind", according to ST.

The body of the 28-year-old Indonesian national, Angel Krishela Pradita, was the first to be found on May 9.

The remains of Heng and Shahin were found by rescuers the next day.

Background

Reuters reported that the active volcano located in North Maluku province erupted ​at 7:41 am local time.

According to Indonesia's volcanology agency, the volcano spewed volcanic ash as high as 10km into the sky.

Mount Dukono has erupted more than 200 times since late March.