Missing Hiker Found Safe on Mount Ijen

A hiker who went missing on the Ijen Crater trail in Licin District, Banyuwangi Regency, Muhammad Dzikri Maulana (16), was finally found safe on Thursday (19 February).

Head of the Banyuwangi Search and Rescue Office, I Made Oka Astawa, said the victim was found alive but in a weakened state.

“Thank God, the victim was found alive,” Made said on Thursday.

He explained that the victim was located after the Joint SAR Team conducted a search by dividing into two Search and Rescue Units (SRUs). SRU 1 carried out a sweep from Paltuding Post towards the summit over a distance of 3.6 kilometres using Explore SAR (ESAR) Type 1 methodology.

Meanwhile, SRU 2 conducted a search around the Last Known Position (LKP) using an ESAR Type 2 open grid pattern covering an area of one square kilometre.

“Despite overcast conditions and light rain, search efforts were maximised with the support of thermal drones and jungle rescue equipment,” he said.

At 16:16 Western Indonesian Time, the victim’s location was detected in a cliff area at a radial of 6.7 degrees and approximately 890 metres from the LKP. The Joint SAR Team immediately carried out a vertical rescue evacuation, and by 17:50 the victim had been brought down to Paltuding Post.

“The victim was subsequently evacuated by ambulance to the Licin Community Health Centre for medical treatment,” he said.

The operation involved multiple agencies including the rescue team from the Banyuwangi Search and Rescue Office, the military and police (TNI-Polri), the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), volunteers, university mountaineering clubs, tourism operators, village officials, and the victim’s family.

Made expressed gratitude for the synergy among all elements of the joint SAR team that enabled the victim to be found safely.

“Thank you to all parties involved for their dedication and solid cooperation in this humanitarian operation. We also urge all hikers to always follow safety procedures, not to separate from their group, and to pay attention to weather conditions when undertaking climbs,” he said.

Previously, the hiker had been reported missing on the Ijen Crater trail in Licin District, Banyuwangi Regency, on Wednesday evening (18 February). The SAR team subsequently launched a search operation.

Made said the missing person report was received by his office at 20:05 Western Indonesian Time.

“The victim has been identified as Muhammad Dzikri Maulana, known as Lakis, a resident of Tamansari Village, Licin District,” Oka said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

Oka explained that the victim had set out to climb with four companions at 02:00. Upon reaching the summit, the victim became separated from the group and had not returned or been found at that point.

“Based on the report received, the incident is estimated to have occurred at approximately 08:30 on the Ijen Crater hiking trail at coordinates 8°3’41.68”S 114°14’45.83”E,” he said.