Two New South Wales men have been arrested in Bali after they were busted climbing the island’s intermittently erupting Mt Agung.
Indonesian Police arrested Ricky Tonacia, 34, and Jack Dennard, 26, about 10am Thursday – eight hours after they began scaling the volcano.
The men reportedly told police they were unaware of the exclusion zone, despite it being widely publicised and the volcano erupting earlier in the week.
New South Wales friends Rick Tonacia (left), 34, and Jack Dennard (right), 26, were busted climbing the Bali’s intermittently erupting Mt Agung Thursday morning
The pair (pictured in the ute tray) were arrested about 10am Thursday at the foot of the mountain – eight hours after they began their trek up the volcano
The men reportedly told police they were unaware of the exclusion zone, despite it being widely publicised and the volcano erupting earlier in the week
They could face serious penalties for ignoring the warnings, Seven News reports.
An eight to 10 kilometre exclusion zone has been enforced since eruptions began in November, and warning signs clearly spell out dangers of climbing the mountain.
The police chief from the town of Selat, Sudartawan, recalled how the arrest of the two men unfolded, ABC News reported.
‘We went to the gate at border of the no-climbing danger zone, and we met two guides who were waiting for them to come back down from the top,’ he said
Mr Tonacia (pictured) is a father of one and, according to his social media profile, a former fire and rescue officer
The friends could face serious penalties for ignoring the warnings, which police say have been abundantly clear since November
An eight to 10 kilometre exclusion zone has been enforced since eruptions began, and warning signs clearly spell out dangers of climbing the mountain
Photos taken after the two men were arrested show Mr Dennard appearing to be speaking on this mobile phone via loudspeaker
‘The local military chief and I and some volunteers waited for them to come back and when they came back we secured them afterwards at Selat Police Office, to get their statements.’
Mr Tonacia is a father of one and, according to his social media profile, a former fire and rescue officer.
The pair were reportedly released from police custody and allowed to return to their Canguu accommodation, on the island’s south coast.
‘We went to the gate at border of the no-climbing danger zone, and we met two guides who were waiting for them to come back down from the top,’ The police chief said
‘The local military chief and I and some volunteers waited for them to come back and when they came back we secured them afterwards at Selat Police Office, to get their statements’
The pair were reportedly released from police custody and allowed to return to their Canguu accommodation, on the island’s south coast