A tragic incident occurred when the Dukono volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted violently on Friday morning, resulting in at least three hikers dead and ten others missing.
Police in North Halmahera province, eastern Indonesia, revealed that the deceased include two foreigners and one Indonesian from the city of Ternate. Rescue officials said there were earlier reports of up to 20 missing hikers, including nine Singaporeans.
Local Indonesian media reported that two of the dead may be Singaporean, but their nationalities have not yet been officially confirmed.
The Dukono volcano, located in North Maluku province, erupted at 07:41 local time, spewing smoke and ash plumes more than 10 kilometers into the sky, accompanied by loud explosions.
Indonesia’s Geological Agency warned that the ash clouds could pose health risks and disrupt travel in the area, although no flight disruptions have been reported so far.
Authorities in Indonesia have mobilized rescue teams, police, and dozens of search personnel to urgently find the missing amidst dangerous conditions. The volcano's alert level remains at 3 out of 4, considered high.
Indonesian officials stated that the area around the volcano's crater has been closed to tourists since 17 April following increased volcanic activity, but some hikers have illegally entered the restricted zone.
Dukono is one of Indonesia’s longest continuously erupting volcanoes, having emitted ash and sulfur gas periodically since 1933.
The hiking route to the volcano is known for being difficult and hazardous, requiring travelers to use planes, boats, and vehicles before trekking through dense forest into the ash- and sulfur-laden areas near the crater.
This incident has deeply affected communities in Indonesia and Singapore, with families of the missing holding onto hope amid ongoing urgent search efforts.
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