(Adnkronos) – The authorities of the Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara are taking measures to improve the safety of climbers and tourists on Mount Rinjani, a very famous and frequented volcano that rises on the island of Lombok, following a series of accidents that have recently involved international visitors. This was stated today by the governor of the province, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal.
The statement came after a Swiss climber fell during a hike on the mountain on Tuesday. Indonesian rescue teams evacuated him and transported him to hospital. A few weeks earlier, on June 21, a Brazilian climber died after falling into a ravine about 600 meters deep in the same area. “This is the time to reflect and improve,” the governor stressed. “Going forward, we will do better. People need to be assured that when they visit Mount Rinjani, they will be safe.” The active volcano is 3,726 meters high.
To try to guarantee tourists a safer visit, Iqbal said that the provincial government, together with the interested parties, is focusing on three key measures: preparing professional rescue teams, installing clear signage and positioning safety equipment near the summit. To improve rescue capabilities, an international standard vertical evacuation training program was launched in East Lombok Regency from 16 to 20 July. Iqbal noted that in the future more rescuers will be trained to meet safety requirements. In addition, evacuation equipment will be positioned in areas at risk of accidents to speed up response times in the event of an emergency, he added.
