Indonesia volcano eruption claims lives of at least three people

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Twenty hikers, including two Singaporeans and an Indonesian, were trapped on Halmahera island when Mount Dukono erupted on Friday morning. According to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu, at least three hikers have died as a result of the eruption.

The volcano had been closed to visitors since April 17 due to increased volcanic activity, and authorities had warned residents and tourists to stay 4km away from the Malupang Warirang crater. However, some hikers ignored these warnings and ventured into the area despite the closure.

According to Pasaribu, 15 of the 20 hikers on the slopes have safely descended, while the whereabouts of the remaining two are currently unknown. The police chief confirmed that the bodies of the three deceased had not been recovered by Friday afternoon due to ongoing eruptions, and the situation remains considered unsafe for evacuation.

Mount Dukono is an active volcano that has erupted over 200 times since March. Tour guide Alex Djangu reported that he arrived with a tour group on Thursday and observed unusual activity from the volcano. He warned his guests of a potential major eruption, which proved correct.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) had issued warnings to tourists and climbers not to venture within four kilometres of the volcano’s crater due to increased seismic activity. Pasaribu stated that some hikers ignored these warnings and social media appeals, putting themselves at risk.

Indonesia is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates collide, resulting in frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The country has approximately 130 active volcanoes, with Mount Dukono currently classified as level two on Indonesia’s four-tiered alert system.

Source: Al Jazeera