Indonesia Volcano Eruption Kills Three Climbers at Mount Dukono
A sudden eruption at Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano killed three climbers and forced rescue teams to evacuate survivors as dangerous conditions continue near the crater region.
- Indonesia volcano eruption kills three climbers
- Mount Dukono blast triggers rescue operation
- Survivors rescued after sudden volcanic eruption
A tragic volcanic eruption in Indonesia claimed the lives of three climbers after Mount Dukono suddenly erupted while a hiking group was near the summit. Authorities confirmed that two tourists from Singapore and one local Indonesian guide died in the incident.
The eruption took place at Mount Dukono, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. A group consisting of nine foreign tourists and eleven local hikers had started their trek on Thursday toward the mountain peak located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province.
Officials said the climbers reached close to the summit around Friday morning when the volcano suddenly erupted, throwing ash, smoke, and hot volcanic rocks into the air. The unexpected blast created panic among trekkers who immediately tried to escape from the danger zone.
Rescue teams managed to safely evacuate 17 climbers from the mountain, while some injured survivors were shifted to hospitals for treatment. Search and rescue authorities said recovery operations for the victims were temporarily suspended because volcanic activity continued in the area and weather conditions remained dangerous.
Local guide Alex Jangu, who survived the eruption, revealed that unusual sounds had been heard from the volcano area since Thursday afternoon. He said drone observations also showed increasing lava activity around the crater before the eruption occurred.
According to the guide, several tourists continued moving forward to record videos despite warning signs near the volcano. He explained that the eruption happened when the group was roughly 100 meters away from the summit, forcing survivors to run downhill to save themselves.
Volcanologists noted that Mount Dukono has shown increased volcanic movement since December last year, with lava eruptions intensifying from March onward. Authorities had already issued warnings asking people to stay at least four kilometres away from the crater zone. However, reports suggest some tourists ignored the restrictions due to limited safety enforcement in the trekking area.
