Indonesia: Three people hiking on Indonesia’s Mount Dukono were killed after the volcano erupted violently, sending a massive ash column nearly 10km into the sky.
Officials said the victims were part of a 20-member hiking group made up of Singaporean and Indonesian climbers who had ignored safety restrictions and entered the volcano’s danger zone despite repeated warnings from authorities.
The eruption occurred at 07:41 local time, catching several hikers near the crater during early morning climbs. Dramatic videos and images shared online showed thick volcanic ash and debris blasting high above the mountain on Indonesia’s North Maluku island.
Authorities confirmed that two Singaporean nationals and one Indonesian resident from the nearby city of Ternate died in the eruption.
Rescue teams later located the remaining members of the group and evacuated most of them from the mountain. Several were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the incident.
Two porters reportedly stayed behind to assist rescuers searching for the victims’ bodies, which remain difficult to retrieve due to ongoing volcanic activity and dangerous terrain.
Rescue efforts hampered by continuous eruptions
According to local officials, Mount Dukono continued ejecting ash, rocks and volcanic material, complicating rescue operations. North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said strong eruptions, steep terrain and repeated blasts from the crater were delaying recovery efforts at higher elevations.
A resident assisting the rescue mission, Aldy Salabia, said volcanic material could still be seen continuously erupting from the crater while teams waited at a shelter on the mountain. Eyewitnesses also reported that multiple groups of hikers were on the mountain during the eruption, despite official restrictions.
Guide describes ‘very strong’ eruption
One hiking guide who was escorting two clients on the mountain said he sensed dangerous pressure building inside the volcano days before the eruption. The guide said he heard deep tremors while climbing and immediately decided to descend with his clients, a decision that likely saved their lives.
As they escaped, he saw other hikers near the crater, including some filming drone footage only metres from the summit.
Authorities warn of negligence
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said preliminary findings suggest there may have been negligence by tourism operators or individuals who proceeded with the climb despite official warnings. Authorities said warnings against hiking Mount Dukono had been widely shared through social media and displayed on banners near trail entrances.
The volcano remains at level two on Indonesia’s four-tier alert system, indicating heightened volcanic activity and the need for caution. Since December 2024, Indonesia’s Volcanological Survey has advised tourists and climbers to stay at least 4km away from the volcano’s main crater due to risks from volcanic rocks, ash and lava.
Standing at 1,335m, Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has erupted more than 200 times since March last year.
Experts warn against treating active volcanoes as tourist sites
Disaster experts said the tragedy highlights the dangers of treating active volcanoes as adventure tourism destinations. Dr. Daryono from the Indonesian Association of Disaster Experts said social media videos showing successful climbs often create a false sense of safety among tourists.
Dr. Daryono warned that active volcanoes such as Mount Dukono can erupt without warning, producing deadly ash clouds, volcanic gas and explosive rock ejections at any moment.
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