Jakarta, ThedailyID — Two teenagers who went missing on Mount Bismo in Wonosobo, Central Java, have been found dead after nearly two weeks of searching.
Authorities identified the victims as Alfin Nur Rohmat, 18, and Yufaidin, 15, both residents of Krinjing Village, Watumalang District, Wonosobo.
The pair entered the mountain on June 30. According to local residents, they left around 11:30 a.m. carrying only light supplies, including crackers and sausages.
Ranger Solichun said the teenagers were not on a formal hiking trip but were carrying out activities on the mountain.
Search efforts initially ended without results. However, rescuers discovered the victims on July 12 at around 1 p.m. in a ravine about 200 meters deep.
Rescuers deployed tracker dogs after detecting a strong odor near the search area. They also installed two rope anchors, each about 100 meters long, to reach the steep ravine.
The joint search and rescue team reached the area on the evening of July 11. However, they postponed the operation until the following morning because safety procedures prohibited nighttime recovery.
Solichun said the dense forest and steep southern slopes of Mount Bismo complicated the search. Thick vegetation blocked sunlight and concealed numerous deep ravines.
Earlier, Wonosobo Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) chief Sumekto Hendro said volunteers from Wanadri, a mountaineering organization, located both bodies near Curug Tiga.
Although officials officially ended the search on July 11, the Wanadri team continued exploring the area and found the victims the following day.
Rescuers spent several hours recovering the bodies because of the difficult terrain. Authorities believe the teenagers had died several days before rescuers found them, and the bodies lay some distance apart.
After the evacuation, officials transferred the bodies to a hospital before returning them to their families for burial.
Mount Bismo, which stands 2,365 meters above sea level, sits within the Dieng volcanic complex in Wonosobo. The mountain is popular among hikers for its relatively easy trails and panoramic summit views. However, its steep ravines and dense forests still pose significant risks.
