THREE hikers have died and more than a dozen others have been injured after Indonesia’s Mount Dukono erupted this morning, sending a towering column of ash high above the island of Halmahera.
The eruption occurred at 07:41 local time, producing an ash plume rising around 10km over the summit .
A group of 20 hikers – including nine Singaporeans – had been on the mountain despite an official climbing ban, according to local police . Authorities have confirmed that two foreigners and one Indonesian resident from Ternate were killed in the blast .
Rescue teams say all surviving hikers have now been located, with 15 people evacuated and taken to hospital for treatment . Two porters from the group have remained on the mountain to help retrieve the bodies, which lie close to the summit where conditions “remain extremely dangerous”.
Aldy, a local rescuer positioned around 2km from the top, said the summit area was still being hit by “ash and rock material continuously being ejected” from the crater, making access hazardous and slowing recovery efforts .
Officials say the hikers entered the trail despite two weeks of warnings and a formal closure, which had been communicated through media reports and posters along access routes . Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, said discussions point to “possible negligence by tourism operators or individuals” who continued to guide climbs despite the ban .
Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, with nearly 200 eruptions recorded since late March . The Volcanological Survey of Indonesia has maintained a Level Two alert, advising the public to stay outside a 4km exclusion zone due to the risk of falling rocks, ash and lava .
Despite this, the volcano continues to attract hikers seeking extreme experiences and the chance to witness an active crater up close. Authorities say some climbers have previously entered the area without informing observation posts, raising ongoing safety concerns .
Local officials say nearby villages remain safe due to their distance from the crater, but rescue operations at higher elevations are expected to continue as conditions allow .
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