Rescuers Still Searching Two Missing Climbers At Mount Slamet

Cilacap, Antara Jateng - Rescuers of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) are still searching for two climbers who had been reported missing during a hike at Mount Slamet, Central Java.

Based on the latest report of the rescue operation at Mount Slamet, until 19:30 local time, the two missing climbers were still nowhere to be found, Coordinator of Basarnas Post in Cilacap Mulwahyono said here on Sunday.

Basarnas had deployed a team of rescuers to work with the local search and rescue team on Saturday at 23:00 local time to search the missing climbers.

On Sunday evening, the rescue team, divided into four groups, made camps in several posts to rest before continuing the search on Monday.

They will comb the area until the mount's peak to find the missing climbers.

"If there is no trails, rescuers will sweep the area below, to the right side towards the Selawe Cave," Mulwahyono said.

The two climbers, namely Riza (16) and Anwar (17), residents of Kedawung Village, Bojong Subdistrict of Tegal District, were reported missing on Saturday.

The two began a late ascent to Mount Slamet (3,428 masl) on Thursday afternoon to catch up the first group who had started to climb earlier in the morning.

However, due to torrential rain at the second highest volcano in Java Island after Mount Semeru, the first group decided not to continue the climb and descended.

Meanwhile, Riza and Anwar were reported to camp due to the bad weather.

On Friday, the family of Riza and Anwar lost contact with the two that they filed a report to Basarnas on the next day.