MT Merapi Caretaker Leads Search for Lost Russian Tourist

Sleman, Yogyakarta (Antara) - Mount Merapi's spiritual caretaker Kliwon Surakso Hargo personally led the search for Russian tourist Ehbhrehnin Yeveny (26), who went missing during a trek to the summit of the active volcano in Central Java on Sunday. Kliwon climbed the mountain, located north of the old town of Yogyakarta, in search of the Russian tourist, along with 10 personnel from the local Search And Rescue agency. "I was asked to participate in the search. In practice, this southern path is not supposed to be used for climbing to Mount Merapi's summit," he explained. He remarked that the Russian tourist had not notified anyone of his plans to scale the mountain using this route. Wearing a green T-shirt emblazoned with the symbol of the traditional Yogyakarta Sultanate and the words "Yogyakarta Palace Servant," Kliwon started his rescue mission at the SAR command post in Kinahrejo. The Russian tourist was last heard from while he was standing in one of the mountain's dry riverbeds. Kliwon said the Russian would not be able to see the lights of the city of Yogyakarta, making it highly likely that he has gotten lost in the valley. Ehbhrehnin had taken the Volcano Tour in Kinahrejo, Cangkringan, Sleman, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, accompanied by his Indonesian girlfriend, Ester, who lives in Nologaten, Depok, Sleman. The couple had returned to Yogyakarta later that day, but on their return, Ehbhrehnin told Ester that he had wanted to climb to the mountain's summit. That evening, he had returned to Kinahrejo alone on a motorbike and had proceeded to climb the mountain unaccompanied. At 7:25 p.m. on Sunday, he sent a short message to Ester, admitting that he was lost and asking her to return on Monday to look for him. Following the recent eruption that swept away the villages on its slopes and claimed dozens of lives, Mount Merapi has attracted a great deal of attention from both domestic and foreign tourists who wish to see the impact of the eruption. The number of visitors to the volcano increased during the Lebaran holiday. (*)