SouthernWorldwide.com – Three hikers have tragically lost their lives and five others sustained injuries after Mount Dukono erupted on a remote Indonesian island. The incident occurred on Friday while the group was present in a restricted area, according to authorities.
Approximately 20 climbers embarked on a journey to ascend the volcano, which stands at nearly 1,355 meters (4,445 feet) in Halmahera, Indonesia, on Thursday. This expedition took place despite existing safety restrictions, as confirmed by North Halmahera Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu.
“They were fully aware that climbing was prohibited, as the mountain is designated a restricted zone due to its high alert status. Nevertheless, they insisted on proceeding,” stated Pasaribu.
Despite clear warnings communicated through social media and visible signage at the location, “many individuals remain determined to climb, driven by the aspiration to create online content,” Pasaribu added.
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Pasaribu detailed that three individuals perished in the eruption, comprising one local resident and two Singaporean nationals. The Indonesian victim hailed from Ternate, a city situated within the same province as Mount Dukono.
The remains of the three victims are still on the volcano. Ongoing eruptions and challenging terrain are currently hindering rescue teams from evacuating them, Pasaribu reported.
The group found themselves stranded when the volcano erupted at 7:41 a.m., unleashing a plume of ash that ascended over 6 miles into the atmosphere.
Rescue teams were mobilized promptly after an emergency signal was received from the mountain’s vicinity.
As of Friday afternoon, 17 climbers had been successfully evacuated. Among them were seven Singaporean nationals and two Indonesians who had joined the rescue operation and provided crucial information regarding the victims’ climbing routes prior to the eruption, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency.
Of those evacuated, five individuals were reported to have suffered injuries.
Pasaribu indicated that the police intend to question individuals who accompanied the hikers up the mountain. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Indonesian National Police for further details.
According to records from the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program, Mount Dukono has been in a state of continuous eruption since 1933.
“Friday’s eruption was among the most powerful observed during this ongoing period,” commented Lana Saria, who leads Indonesia’s Geology Agency within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
