Mount Dukono Eruption in Indonesia Claims Lives
Mount Dukono erupted on a remote Indonesian island on Friday, leading to the deaths of three individuals and injuring five others as hikers entered a restricted zone, according to officials.
About 20 climbers had embarked on a journey to reach the summit of the 1,355-meter (4,445-foot) volcano in Halmahera, Indonesia, despite clear safety warnings, noted North Halmahera Police Chief Errikson Pasarib.
“They were aware that climbing was not allowed due to high safety risks, yet they chose to proceed,” Pasarib stated. Even with alerts on social media and warning signs, “a number of people still opt to climb, motivated by the urge to create content online,” he added.
Pasarib reported that three victims—one local and two from Singapore—lost their lives due to the eruption. The local individuals hailed from Ternate, near the volcano.
The bodies of the deceased remain on the volcano, complicating rescue efforts due to ongoing eruptions and challenging terrain, according to Pasarib. The climbers found themselves stranded when the volcano erupted at 7:41 a.m. local time, releasing an ash column that soared over six miles.
A rescue operation was initiated after an emergency signal was received from the mountainous region.
As of Friday afternoon, National Disaster Management Authority spokesperson Abdul Muhari reported that 17 climbers had been successfully evacuated, including seven Singaporeans and two Indonesians who had assisted in rescue efforts by providing data on the climbing routes used before the eruption.
Five of those rescued were reported injured.
Pasarib also mentioned plans to interrogate individuals who were accompanying the climbers. Further details have been requested from the Indonesian National Police.
Dukono has been in a state of continuous eruption since 1933, as indicated by the Smithsonian Institution’s World Volcanism Program. Rana Saria, head of the Geology Department at Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, remarked that “Friday’s eruption was among the most intense in this period.”
