Makassar, S. Sulawesi. Search and rescue teams on Monday found a second victim from an ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) that crashed in mountainous terrain in South Sulawesi, authorities said, as efforts continued in extreme conditions to recover the remaining victims.

The body, identified as female, was located on the third day of search operations in the rugged Bulusaraung mountain range in Pangkajene and Islands Regency. The discovery was reported at around 2 p.m. local time, according to National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii.

“Today, one victim has been found,” Syafii told reporters at the Basarnas Class A office in Makassar, located at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

With the latest recovery, the number of victims found has risen to two. A day earlier, search teams recovered the body of a male victim. Authorities said the identities of both victims have yet to be officially confirmed and will be determined through the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) process.

“The terrain is very steep and hazardous. The victim was found in a ravine with an estimated depth of 500 meters from the summit,” he said. “At this stage, the evacuation process is still underway.”

The evacuation has been complicated by the near-vertical cliffs, limited access routes and unpredictable weather conditions in the mountainous area. Joint search teams involving Basarnas, the Indonesian military, police and volunteers remain deployed at the site.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft went missing on Saturday afternoon while approaching Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. Authorities later confirmed that the plane had crashed in a remote area near the border between Maros and Pangkep regencies.

The aircraft was carrying 10 people, including seven crew members and three passengers. The passengers were identified as officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries: Ferry Irawan, Deden Maulana and Yoga Naufal.

The crew members on board were Captain Andi Dahananto, co-pilot Muhammad Farhan Gunawan, and flight attendants or crew Hariadi, Restu Adi, Dwi Murdiono, Florencia Lolita and Esther Aprilita.

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