A man who guided hikers up one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes says he had no indication the trip would turn fatal in seconds. "I still can't believe it," Indonesian guide Reza Selang tells the BBC, claiming he was unaware Mount Dukono was off-limits, having erupted more than 200 times in recent weeks. Selang says he led 20 hikers—Singaporeans and Indonesians—up the North Maluku peak last week, only to watch it erupt and kill three members of the group. He says the volcano erupted Friday as 14 hikers were visiting the summit crater, and that an ejected boulder instantly crushed two people directly beside him.
Dukono has been under tightened restrictions since April 17, with climbing permits halted and a 2.5-mile exclusion zone in place, according to authorities. Reza, who told the Straits Times that the trip was planned months in advance, says he never saw the warnings posted online or at trail entrances. He says he spoke with a local guide who told him there had been no volcanic activity at all and that drone footage confirmed no visible activity before two rapid eruptions hit Friday morning.
As rocks rained down, he and Singaporean organizer Timothy Heng tried to drag injured Singaporean hiker Shahin Muhrez to safety; a massive rock then struck and killed both men, Reza says. The third victim, Indonesian hiker Angel Krishela Pradita, was later found near the summit. With police probing possible negligence by tour operators, Reza says he will accept any legal outcome and is struggling with intense regret. "I want to apologize" to the victims' families, he tells the BBC.
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