A violent eruption at Mount Dukono, located on the remote North Maluku island of Halmahera, has claimed the lives of three hikers. The disaster occurred early Friday morning, May 8, 2026, as the volcano sent a massive column of ash ten kilometers into the atmosphere.
Despite repeated safety warnings and official restrictions against climbing, the victims were part of a larger group of 20 hikers who attempted to scale the summit.
Details of the Incident
According to local police official Erlichson Pasaribu, the group consisted of both Indonesian and Singaporean nationals. While rescue teams managed to locate and evacuate 17 members of the party, three individuals could not escape the blast of volcanic material and toxic gases.
The victims have been identified as:
- Two Singaporean nationals: Reported to be men aged 27 and 30.
- One Indonesian national: A woman from the nearby city of Ternate.
As of Friday evening, search and rescue teams confirmed that the bodies of the deceased remain on the mountain, as ongoing volcanic activity and unstable terrain have hampered recovery efforts.
A Pattern of High Activity
Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. Government volcanologists have recorded more than 200 eruptions since March of last year alone. Due to this persistent activity, officials had established a permanent exclusion zone around the crater, which the hiking group reportedly bypassed.
Current Situation on the Ground:
- Ash Cloud: The 10km ash plume has disrupted local air travel, with several regional airports in North Maluku suspended until further notice.
- Evacuation Orders: Villages near the base of the mountain have been advised to use masks and stay indoors as ash began falling on residential areas.
- Recovery Operations: Authorities are waiting for the volcanic tremors to subside before attempting to retrieve the bodies of the three victims.
Volcanic Hazards in Indonesia
Indonesia sits on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region with high seismic and volcanic activity. Mount Dukono’s latest eruption serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by active peaks, especially when safety protocols and exclusion zones are ignored by adventure seekers.
