National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Spokesman Abdul Muhari said the victim, identified as E, an Indonesian national, was found at around 2:30 p.m.
Reports indicated the body was located about 50 meters from the rim of the volcano’s main crater.
The body had been buried under volcanic sand and became visible after heavy rain washed away part of the material.
Muhari said the victim was evacuated to Tobelo Regional Hospital, with operations conducted cautiously due to fluctuating volcanic activity and thick sand deposits.
He said rescuers identified two nearby sand deposits suspected to contain the other victims.
Both sites lie within a radius of about three meters from where the first victim was found.
“These two points have been marked using GPS coordinates,” he said.
Due to worsening weather and high volcanic activity, the team prioritized evacuating the first victim and suspended further searches for safety.
Muhari said the SAR team plans to resume search and excavation at the marked sites on Sunday, May 10.
The operation is led by the Ternate SAR Office and the North Halmahera disaster mitigation agency.
BNPB urged the public and tourists to comply with climbing bans and stay outside designated danger zones set by the Geological Agency.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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