SouthernWorldwide.com – Mount Dukono, a volcano located in Indonesia, erupted on Friday, tragically resulting in the deaths of at least three hikers who were present in a restricted area.
The incident occurred on Halmahera island, and authorities have also reported that several other individuals remain missing following the eruption.
The volcano ejected an ash cloud approximately six miles into the atmosphere. Fortunately, no nearby towns or villages were in immediate danger due to the eruption’s proximity.
According to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu, a total of twenty hikers were on the volcano’s slopes when the eruption took place. He provided this information to reporters at a volcano monitoring station situated in Mamuya village.
Among the twenty hikers, nine were identified as being from Singapore, while the remaining eleven were Indonesian nationals.
Erlichson stated several hours after the early morning eruption that fifteen climbers had successfully descended the mountain safely.
Read more: Apparent Bear Attack Kills Missing Hiker in Glacier National Park
He also confirmed that the bodies of the deceased hikers were still on the mountain. He did not provide further details regarding the exact whereabouts of the other two missing hikers.
The police chief explained that due to the ongoing volcanic activity, the area remains unsafe for evacuation efforts. Therefore, the joint rescue team is currently awaiting a suitable time to commence their search operations.
Some hikers who sustained minor injuries have been transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The guide who led the group, along with a porter, have been taken to the police station. They may face criminal charges for leading hikers into an area that had been designated as prohibited.
Indonesia is situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region characterized by frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location along a belt of volcanoes and fault lines.
