Briton missing in Mt. Merapi

Briton missing in Mt. Merapi

PADANG, West Sumatra: Police have launched a search operation for a Briton who went missing Sunday night after climbing Mt. Merapi.

Lt. Col. Jufril Ismail, chief of Agam Police, said a 10-man team, lead by his deputy Major Sriyono, has been sent to the site where 25-year old Darren Roper was last seen.

He was reported missing by his fellow countryman Edward Williams, 22, Antara reported.

The two Britons left the Suwarni Inn in Bukittinggi on Sunday night to try to trek the volcano despite warnings from the Inn's proprietor about the dangers of scaling the mountain, Jufril said.

They apparently lost their way in the thick jungle but Williams managed to find his way out to alert the police of his friend's disappearance.

The area has claimed many lives in recent years, including a Dutch tourist, an American anthropologist and a group of four students from North Sumatra. They went missing and have never been found. (emb)