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Search continues for Swiss hiker missing in Semeru
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The beauty of nature -- A search and rescue team has continued to look for Lionel Du Creaux, 26, a Swiss hiker who was reported missing on Mount Semeru [pictured] on June 7. (thejakartapost.com/Wahyoe Boediwardhana)
T
he search for a missing hiker from Switzerland continued on Thursday, on which day a search and rescue (SAR) team flew a drone over the areas of Mount Semeru suspected to be the last known positions of the man.
“The drone, which was just brought from Jakarta, can fly for about four hours and it is equipped with infrared cameras, which can be used to take photos and videos,” said Budi Mulyanto, an official from the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS).
He said no sign of the Swiss hiker had been found in the search, which entered its eighth day on Wednesday. “The results are nil. Divided into eight groups, the search officers have focused their operations at the Blank 75 area, Mount Boto, Ranu Kuning, Punuk and Tempuk waterfalls, the Coban Tompe area, Sumbermani, Watuklosot, Kalimati, and Arcopodo,” Budi told thejakartapost.com.
He said the SAR headquarters in Jakarta had also dispatched a team of 10 elite personnel to back up the search. “All search and rescue workers are optimistic they can find the hiker, but they are not sure of his condition. We continue the search operation based on a request from the Swiss Embassy,” said Budi.
Swiss national Lionel Du Creaux, 26, was reported missing on Mt. Semeru on June 7. It was reported that Du Creaux initially climbed Semeru with a female friend, Alice Guignard, from France.
TNBTS head John Kenedie said earlier that about 50 personnel from various groups were involved in the search and rescue operation. All hiking trails on the mountain, which reaches 3,676 meters above sea level, were temporarily closed to any trekking.
John said the search operation started on June 9. “We will carry out the operation without a time limit. It is hoped he can be found,” said John.
He said that straightaway after Du Creaux was reported missing, TNBTS sent a letter informing the Swiss Embassy in Jakarta of the development. The Swiss Consulate in Surabaya, East Java, also directly contacted the TNBTS to coordinate the search for the missing hiker.
John said Du Creaux climbed Mt. Semeru illegally because he did not report to TNBTS officers at the Ranu Pane post, Lumajang, when he was about to start hiking, as per the required procedures.
According to information from Guignard, they departed from Malang to climb Mt. Semeru on June 3. Without reporting their climbing plans to the Ranu Pane post, Du Creaux and Guignard started climbing at around 7 a.m. local time.
They were separated during the climb. Around 10 p.m. on June 6, Guignard was found by Heri Sumantri, a climbing guide from the nature lover group Haspala, but her friend’s whereabouts were unknown. Heri took Guignard to the base camp. She filed a missing persons report to the Ranu Pane post on June 7. (ebf)
