Eruption on Indonesia’s Mount Dukono Kills Three, Leaves 10 Missing

A violent eruption at Mount Dukono on Indonesia’s eastern Halmahera island has left three hikers dead and 10 more unaccounted for, according to local police. The volcano sent an ash cloud roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the sky early Monday morning.

Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu of North Halmahera district told Kompas TV that the dead include two foreign nationals and one resident from the nearby island of Ternate. Seven climbers managed to descend safely, but rescue teams are still searching for 10 others in an area that was officially closed to visitors last month after scientists detected rising volcanic activity.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency, BNPB, reported that five additional climbers were injured. Spokesperson Abdul Muhari said joint rescue teams are conducting sweeps and evacuations as the volcano continues to rumble. The terrain is rough, accessible only partway by vehicle, forcing rescuers to carry survivors on stretchers. “There is still rumbling from the eruption. It slows down our evacuation,” Pasaribu added.

Geology agency head Lana Saria described a “booming sound” accompanying the early morning blast, with thick smoke drifting north. She warned residents of Tobelo city to prepare for possible volcanic ash rain, which could pose health risks and disrupt transportation.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “ring of fire,” a zone of intense tectonic activity, and is home to nearly 130 active volcanoes. Mount Dukono is currently at level two on the country’s four-tier alert system. Since December, officials had urged tourists and climbers to stay at least 4 kilometers from the Malupang Warirang crater.

Pasaribu said the hikers ignored social media warnings and signs posted at the trailhead. “Local residents understand and don’t want to climb,” he noted. “Many are foreign tourists who wish to create content.”