One more hiker found dead

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The body of one of the 16 missing trekkers from Gadjah Mada University's Nature Lovers club was found on Mt. Slamet on Tuesday.

The other 15 missing trekkers were found alive but in poor condition.

The discovery of the body of Fauzan raises the number of fatalities to two, after the body of another club member, Masruhi, was discovered on Monday by a search and rescue (SAR) team.

Fauzan's body was found at a spot 1,500 meters high. The other 15 trekkers were found in separate locations on the mountain, the coordinator of the SAR team, Muheri, said.

A group of students from Gadjah Mada University and Soedirman University in Purwokerto began hiking to the top of the 3,428- meter-high mountain on Feb. 3.

When inclement weather struck the area, 11 of the students were able to make their way off the mountain, while the rest were reported missing.

Rescuers had no sign of the missing students until they found Masruhi's body on Monday. This was followed by the discovery on Tuesday of the body of Fauzan and the rescue of 15 of the students.

Muheri said there were conflicting reports on the number of students who began the hike, but he stated three students were still missing.

Heni, the coordinator of the trekkers from Gadjah Mada University, said the data he had indicated only 25 students ascended the mountain.

A police search and rescue team was deployed on Tuesday to locate the missing students, despite the fact that the students who earlier made it off the mountain had refused the police's help.

The students have been tight-lipped with the police, the Indonesian Red Cross, journalists and villagers who expressed their willingness to help them find their missing colleagues. (45)