Three Mt. Kerinci climbers found dead

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Three mountain climbers have been found dead at the bottom of a ravine approximately 3,400 meters above sea level on Mt. Kerinci, Jambi after they were declared missing two weeks ago.

Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dwi Hartono said on Friday that the search and rescue team discovered the climbers' remains on Thursday but had been unable to remove the decomposed bodies due to heavy rains and tough terrain.

The joint search and rescue team involving Kerinci Police and the Jakarta-based mountaineering group Wanadri were hoping to retrieve the bodies and fly the corpses to Jakarta on Sunday.

The three men were identified as Aloysius, 23, Teddy, 24, and Wiwin, all from Jakarta.

Aloysius resided on Jl. Inderagiri in Cilincing, North Jakarta, Teddy lived on Jl. Sungai Mahakam, South Jakarta, and Wiwin was a student with the Institute for the Development of Indonesian Business (IPWI) in Jakarta.

Relatives of the three mount climbers have arrived in Kerinci regency.

Mt. Kerinci measures 3,505 meters above sea level, the highest in Sumatra.

Hartono was quoted by Antara as saying that the three climbers may have fallen into the ravine because of thick cloud.

The three were among 200 students from Jakarta, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra who had planned to celebrate New Year's eve on the peak of Mt. Kerinci.