2 Climbers of Carstensz Who Departed With Him Have Passed Away, Fiersa Besari Mourns

Kapanlagi.com - The Summit of Carstensz Pyramid, an amazing challenge in Papua, recently held deep sorrow for the climbing world. Fiersa Besari, a talented Indonesian musician, was involved in a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two female climbers, Lilie Wijayati Poegiono and Elsa Laksono. This event took place on February 28, 2025, when a climbing group consisting of ten climbers and five guides faced tragedy at an altitude of 4,884 meters above sea level.

These two climbers from Jakarta are suspected to have died due to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or hypothermia during their descent from the summit. Fiersa, who is part of the climbing team, has not made an official statement, but he has expressed his sadness through a post on his Instagram Story.

In the midst of this sorrowful atmosphere, Fiersa Besari posted something that hinted at his grief. Through Instagram Story, he shared a black screen with a broken heart emoji.

1. Fiersa's Group

The Chairman of the Indonesian Mountain Guides Association (APGI), Rahman Mukhlis, confirmed that Lilie and Elsa were part of a group consisting of ten climbers and five guides. 'The victims are Mrs. Lilie and Mrs. Elsa, two climbers from Jakarta,' said Rahman in a phone call, as reported by Tempo.co, Sunday (2/3).

The group consisted of Fiersa Bestari, Indira Alaika, Furki, Elsa Laksono, Lilie Wijayanti Poegiono, Saroni, Ludy Hadiyanto, and two climbers from Turkey as well as one person from Russia. They were accompanied by guides namely Nurhuda, Alvin Perdana, Arlen Kolinug, Jeni Dainga, and Ruslan.

In the climbing report, this incident was recorded to have occurred on February 28, 2023 (there was a typo in the year in that document, ed). Now the bodies of Lilie and Elsa have been brought down to the Yellow Valley, a climbing post located at an altitude of about 4,200 meters above sea level.

2. Evacuation Process and Sense of Loss

It is planned that their bodies will be evacuated using a helicopter to Timika before being returned to Jakarta. The climbing operator has coordinated with the police and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to ensure the evacuation process goes smoothly. 'Hopefully the evacuation process goes well,' said Rahman.

The summit of Carstensz Pyramid is indeed known for its extreme weather conditions, and this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough preparation and awareness of the risks of AMS and hypothermia. This tragedy is not only a loss for the victims' families but also for the climbing community that has lost two inspiring figures.

(kpl/phi)