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China: A 31-year-old Chinese woman, identified as Huang Lihong, lost her life after falling off the edge of a crater while posing for a photo on an Indonesian volcano known for its popular “blue fire” phenomenon.
According to the report, the woman was with her husband on a guided tour when the incident happened on Saturday. The woman and her husband were part of a guided tour aiming to witness the sunrise, had climbed to the edge of the crater of Ijen – a volcano tourism park in the region – cops said.
According to the police, the woman plummeted from a height of 75m and died from the impact of her fall. Authorities have deemed the incident as an unfortunate accident. The tour guide informed officials that despite repeated warnings about the dangers of getting too close to the crater’s edge while taking pictures, Huang Lihong moved backward to get a better shot, leading to the tragic misstep.
However, she then started walking backwards to inch closer and then accidentally stepped on her long clothing, tripped and fell into the mouth of the volcano. It is not clear if the 31-year-old was wearing a skirt or a dress. Rescuers had to work for around 2 hours to retrieve her body from the crater. The Ijen volcano is famous for its striking “blue fire” caused by sulfuric gases combustion.
In a separate incident, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, experienced eruptions that forced evacuations as molten rocks descended upon nearby villages. According to The information, in 2018, scores of people were forced to evacuate their homes and at least 30 people were hospitalised after the volcano started to emit toxic gases.
Mount Ijen regularly releases small amounts of noxious gases but the site stays open to the public. The volcano erupted multiple times, sending ash clouds soaring into the sky and producing a display of fiery lava and volcanic lightning.
Indonesia is home to around 130 active volcanoes. The recent events serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of volcanoes and the importance of adhering to safety guidelines when visiting such sites.
Recently, a remote Indonesian volcano sent a tower of ash spewing into the sky, after nearly half a dozen eruptions forced thousands to evacuate when molten rocks rained down on their villages. The tragic loss of Huang Lihong highlights the need for caution and awareness while exploring volcanic landscapes, emphasising the potential risks associated with venturing too close to hazardous areas for the sake of a photograph.
