Three killed, others trapped after volcano erupts in Indonesia – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Indonesia’s Mount Dukono erupted without warning on Friday morning, killing three people and forcing a frantic rescue for more than a dozen other climbers who had been near the crater rim. Among the dead were two Singapore nationals and one Indonesian citizen, according to local police. Rescue teams reached the survivors by late afternoon, yet ongoing explosions and ash plumes prevented them from recovering the bodies.
Guide Describes the Sudden Blast
Alex Djangu, an Indonesian mountain guide, was leading two German tourists when the ground began to shake. He felt deep tremors and saw small rocks sliding down the slope before the main eruption. Djangu immediately told his clients to run, and the group escaped safely after moving about 100 meters from the rim. He later recalled seeing two groups of local tourists still close to the crater, one of them filming. “I hope they are still alive,” Djangu said in video recorded near the scene. The volcano continued erupting through the afternoon with loud, supersonic sounds, he added.
Nine Foreigners and Eleven Locals on the Trail
North Halmahera Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu confirmed that 20 hikers were on the mountain when the eruption began. The group included nine foreigners and 11 Indonesians. All of the survivors made it down the slopes by Friday afternoon. Pasaribu noted that the three fatalities occurred close to the crater. Rescue teams later carried at least one injured person on a stretcher through the forest, according to images released by the national search and rescue agency BASARNAS.
Why Recovery Remains Impossible
Ongoing volcanic activity has blocked any attempt to retrieve the bodies. Officials said the mountain continues to emit thick columns of smoke and ash, making the area too dangerous for recovery operations. BASARNAS has not yet issued an official confirmation of the deaths or nationalities. Mount Dukono ranks among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. Activity has increased since late March, and experts warn that quiet periods often precede stronger eruptions as pressure builds underground.
Indonesia’s Volatile Ring of Fire Setting
The country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that stretches from Japan through Indonesia to the Americas. Mount Dukono sits on Halmahera island in North Maluku province, where such events are common yet still catch climbers off guard. Djangu emphasized the need for caution around the peak. When the volcano stays quiet for several days, he said, it may simply be building pressure for the next event.
