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)