Five Hikers Struck by Lightning on Mount Monrolo Peak in Maros, One Dead

Five hikers were struck by lightning on Mount Monrolo Peak in Maros, South Sulawesi, resulting in one fatality and four survivors. The incident occurred during a climb in the Bonto Manurung area of Tompobulu subdistrict, Maros Regency.

Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of Makassar Class A Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), confirmed the deceased as Fauzan, a 25-year-old resident of Bonto Tallasa village in Simbang subdistrict.

The tragedy is believed to have happened around 5:20 PM WITA on Sunday, 24 May 2026, when the group was at the summit and weather suddenly turned extreme with heavy rain. Despite worsening conditions, the climbers had taken photos before being struck by lightning.

Basarnas Makassar received the report at 8:28 PM WITA, prompting an immediate joint rescue operation involving 22 personnel from Basarnas, Maros Fire Department, Maros Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Hasanuddin University SAR, Maros Red Cross, local volunteer groups, and residents.

The team arrived at the mountain base at 11:30 PM WITA and began a night ascent. The rugged, rocky terrain posed significant challenges. Mount Monrolo, standing at 1,109 metres above sea level, is known for its steep and jagged rock formations and is a popular hiking destination.

Arif stated, ‘The mountain is steep and rocky, with sections requiring ropes due to the extreme slope. These technical difficulties extended the evacuation time.’ Additional 20 personnel were deployed in the morning to expedite the operation. The team reached the summit at 5:50 AM on Monday, and after three and a half hours of evacuation, Fauzan’s body was transported to the mountain base by 9:20 AM WITA and taken to a health centre by ambulance.