At least three hikers have been killed after a powerful eruption of Mount Dukono trapped climbers on a remote Indonesian island, authorities confirmed Friday.
The deadly eruption occurred on Halmahera Island in Indonesia after approximately 20 hikers attempted to climb the active volcano despite strict safety restrictions already in place due to heightened volcanic activity.
Officials said Mount Dukono erupted at about 7:41 a.m. local time on Thursday, sending a massive ash column nearly 10 kilometers into the sky. Indonesia’s Geological Agency reported that the eruption lasted more than 16 minutes and was one of the strongest volcanic explosions recorded at the mountain in recent weeks.
Authorities confirmed that three men, including two Singaporean nationals and one Indonesian citizen, died during the eruption. Their bodies have not yet been recovered because ongoing eruptions, toxic volcanic gases, falling debris, and dangerous terrain continue to block rescue access to the area.
Emergency rescue teams were dispatched after distress signals were received from stranded climbers on the mountain. By Friday afternoon, officials said 14 climbers, including several foreign nationals, had been safely evacuated, while five survivors were reported injured.
Police said the hikers knowingly ignored government restrictions that banned climbing within a 2.5-mile radius of the crater due to the volcano’s high alert status.
North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu stated that despite repeated warnings and danger notices around the site, some visitors continued attempting to climb the volcano, often motivated by creating online content for social media platforms.
Mount Dukono is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting almost continuously since 1933. Indonesian authorities revealed that volcanic activity sharply increased in late March, with nearly 200 eruptions recorded since March 30 and an average of around 95 eruptions daily.
The government has also warned residents about possible secondary hazards, including volcanic mudflows triggered by heavy rainfall around the volcano’s slopes.
Ash clouds from Friday’s eruption drifted northward toward nearby communities, including the town of Tobelo, raising concerns about public health risks, transportation disruptions, and reduced air quality.
Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, and is home to more than 120 active volcanoes.
Officials continue to urge residents, tourists, and climbers to avoid restricted areas around Mount Dukono as monitoring efforts remain ongoing.