Indonesia Volcano Eruption Leaves Hikers Missing, Three Dead

A rescue operation is ongoing in eastern Indonesia after Mount Dukono volcano erupted, sending ash about 10 km into the air and leaving around 20 hikers missing, including nine Singaporeans. Authorities confirmed three deaths, including two foreigners. The area had already been closed due to increased volcanic activity. Rescue teams are searching for survivors while officials warn nearby communities to stay alert as ash spreads and the volcano remains on a high alert level.

A rescue operation is underway in eastern Indonesia after Mount Dukono, a volcano located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, erupted on Friday morning, sending a massive plume of volcanic ash as high as 10 kilometers into the atmosphere. The eruption occurred at about 07:41 a.m. local time and was accompanied by a loud booming sound, according to Indonesia’s volcanology agency.
Following the eruption, about 20 hikers were reported missing in the area, including nine tourists from Singapore. Authorities later confirmed that three people have died—two foreigners and one Indonesian resident from Ternate Island. Rescue teams, including dozens of emergency personnel, have been deployed to search for survivors and locate those still unaccounted for in the difficult volcanic terrain.
Officials said the area around Mount Dukono had already been restricted to visitors since April 17 due to increased volcanic activity detected by scientists. Despite this warning, hikers were still present in the region when the eruption occurred. Authorities have raised concerns about safety compliance in high-risk volcanic zones.
The volcanic ash cloud has been drifting northward, raising concerns for nearby communities such as Tobelo City, where residents have been warned to remain alert for ash fall. The volcanology agency has maintained the volcano at the third-highest alert level in Indonesia’s four-tier warning system and has advised people to avoid any activity within 4 kilometers of the crater.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common due to shifting tectonic plates. The country has hundreds of volcanoes, many of which are active, making eruption-related emergencies a recurring risk. Authorities continue search and rescue efforts while monitoring the volcano for further activity.