Two students die on Mt. Bawakaraeng

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Two students of Hasanuddin University (Unhas), located in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar, were found dead on Monday on Mt. Bawakaraeng in Gowa regency, some 11 kilometers south of here.

The university's search and rescue team reported that the victims were mountaineers: Alawi Hasyimi Parukki, a geology student, and Ikhsan, a social/political science student.

Two other mountaineers Daud and Wiwik survived the incident.

Wiwik said the four went hiking last Friday but were caught in a rainstorm in the slopes of the mountain, some 2,000 meters above sea level.

They decided to go down from the mountain, but the health of Alawi and Ikhsan deteriorated sharply. Blood drifted out from their mouth and noses.

Daud decided to go down alone to seek for help on Sunday, while Wiwik stayed to take care of the two students.

SAR team found the three students on Monday morning, but the two had already died. -- JP