Timika, Olemah.com — Two Indonesian climbers from Malang, East Java, Lilie Wijayanti Poegiono and Elsa Laksono, were reported dead on Mount Carstensz, Papua, on Sunday (March 2). Both climbers were confirmed to have passed away on Saturday (March 1).
Lilie and Elsa were among a group of 15 climbers on Mount Carstensz, consisting of both Indonesian and foreign nationals. Meanwhile, singer Fiersa Besari was reported safe.
Head of the Mimika Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, Wayan Suyatna, confirmed that Fiersa was found in good condition along with his group and is now at the base camp.
"Fiersa Besari was part of the 15-member Mount Carstensz climbing group. He is currently at the Lembah Kuning base camp. The access to this area is very remote and requires helicopter transportation," Wayan Suyatna told reporters in Timika, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, on Sunday (March 2).
According to Wayan, SAR teams faced significant difficulties in accessing the Carstensz location, with limited communication capabilities. The climbing group consisted of 10 climbers and five guides. Lilie and Elsa were confirmed deceased.
"Four members of the climbing group have been evacuated to Timika Hospital: Idra Alaika, Saroni, and Ruslan (a guide), all in stable condition. Meanwhile, Elsa's body has been successfully evacuated to Mimika Hospital, but Lilie's remains are still at the Lembah Kuning base camp," Wayan added.
Wayan detailed the chronology of events, stating that the 15-member climbing group began crossing the Tyrolean Bridge on Friday (February 28). The group was estimated to have reached the Carstensz summit at approximately 2:00 PM WIT (exact time unconfirmed).
Communication via handy talkies (HT) failed due to weak batteries, making it difficult to maintain contact. Later, climbers Octries Ruslan and Abdullah, who managed to descend, confirmed that the entire group had reached the summit.
However, two climbers, Indira and Saroni, suffered from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) in the lower summit area. While descending, Ruslan arrived at Teras Besar, while the rest of the group and guides remained near the Tyrolean Bridge.
The team held a briefing to organize rescue efforts. At 8:45 PM WIT, a climber named Nurhuda reached the base camp alone, showing symptoms of hypothermia. He requested assistance from the base camp team, as the radio was not functioning, and handed over his jackets.
At 9:48 PM WIT, climber Yustinus Sondegau climbed back up to provide emergency aid, including sleeping bags, fly sheets, hot water, and a radio. He was accompanied by an international guide named Dawa Gyalje Sherpa to assist in the rescue efforts.
At 6:45 AM WIT, an Intan Angkasa helicopter took off from Timika to evacuate the deceased and surviving climbers. Upon arrival at Lembah Kuning, Elsa’s body and three surviving climbers were transported to Timika Regional General Hospital.
The rescue operation involved a joint team from the Indonesian Army (TNI AD), Navy (TNI AL), Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob Timika), SAR Mimika, and Tembagapura Police Station. (**)
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