Five climbers die

Five climbers die

UJUNGPANDANG (JP): Five of a group of seven trekkers were
found dead on Mount Bawakaraeng, a 2,800-meter-high mountain in
the Gowa regency of South Sulawesi, police report.

Their bodies were located on Friday, the Malino police
announced Friday.

The five were Syamsul bin La Bannu, 20, Gaffar bin Saga, 22,
Arnold, 20, Daming bin Lipung, 19 and Mochtar bin Sutte, 20. The
two survivors were identified as Madjid, 20 and Diung, 19, Chief
Sergeant Sagala, the head of the detective unit of the Malino
police sub station, was quoted by Antara as saying.

Sagala said the five died from exposure to extremely low
temperatures caused by a ceaseless downpour. Their condition
worsened after they ran out of food, Sagala added.

According to police estimation, Syamsul died on Wednesday at
about 8 p.m. on top of the mountain, while Gaffar and Arnold
died two hours later when trying to climb down to seek help.
Daming and Mochtar died on Friday morning, also while trying to
find help. (lem)