Four climbers found dead

PADANG, West Sumatra: Rescue workers declared on Wednesday the death of four students who, along with eight others, went missing on Mount Merapi recently.

The death toll was raised after two more bodies were found on Tuesday night. The rescuers discovered Devi Ofira and Nova Trio Putri dead 125 meters apart on Hantu hill, where the bodies of Ryan and Wati were found on Sunday.

The bodies of the two women were evacuated on Wednesday.

A rescue team member, Rizanto Algamar, suspected that both Devi and Nova had died from exhaustion after trying to find a way out of the thick forest on the volcano.

"The shape of the trees on Hantu hill are alike. Those who are lost will just go round the hill," Rizanto told The Jakarta Post, adding that his squad found footprints of the two students surrounding the hill.

He said one more student, identified as Rahmat Hidayat, had yet to be evacuated. Rahmat had been spotted at the Badorai area on the northern slope of the mount. (28)