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2 volunteers die while rescuing victims of Mt. Sinabung eruption
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Mount Sinabung spews volcanic ash near Tiga Serangkai village in Karo, North Sumatra, on Nov. 1, 2016. (Antara Photo/Tibta Peranginangin)
T
wo members of a search and rescue team have reportedly died in separate locations in Karo, North Sumatra, while trying to rescue residents affected by the eruption of Mount Sinabung.
The body of Harpenas Surba, 40, one of the two ill-fated volunteers, was found by local residents at Lau Biang River in the area of Tanjung Merahe on Saturday after he went missing on Thursday.
Meanwhile, another volunteer, Jasa Bangun, 50, had a heart attack while taking part in a rescue mission. Jasa was actively involved in the monitoring of Mount Sinabung's volcanic activity.
Natanael Perangin-angin, an official with the Karo Disaster Mitigation Agency, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that "Both volunteers were tough and known to be very active in doing humanitarian work".
According to Natanael, after Mount Sinabung erupted in 2010, many volunteers had taken part in helping residents who lived nearby the volcano.
"Most of them [the volunteers] are from other neighboring villages that are not affected by the eruptions," Natanael said.
Separately, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) advised residents to stay alert to the possibility of more eruptions following Saturday’s eruption.
"We cannot predict when the eruptions are going to stop. The volcanic parameters and seismic activities are still high, which means that eruptions could potentially happen," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho from the BNPB said as quoted by kompas.com on Saturday. (rdi/dmr)
