An eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia's North Maluku province killed at least three hikers and injured 17 others on Friday [1].
The tragedy highlights the dangers of venturing into restricted volcanic zones during periods of increased activity, as the area had been closed to visitors since late last year.
The eruption occurred at 7:41 a.m. local time [5], sending an ash column 10 kilometres into the air [6]. Among the dead were two Singaporean nationals and one Indonesian national [1]. An Indonesian mountain guide, who filmed the immediate aftermath, was also present during the event [3].
Following the blast, 20 hikers were reported missing [3]. Rescue operations later located 15 of those missing individuals and transported them to a hospital [3].
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation had implemented a safety exclusion zone prohibiting visitors from coming within four kilometres of the crater [7]. This ban had been in place since December 2025 [8] due to rising volcanic activity [3].
Indonesian authorities coordinated the rescue efforts on the slopes of the volcano to recover the deceased and treat the wounded [1]. The footage captured by the guide provides a rare look at the split-second decisions made during the eruption to save survivors [3].
“An eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia's North Maluku province killed at least three hikers”
The deaths of these hikers, occurring within a designated exclusion zone, underscore a recurring tension between tourism and geological safety in Indonesia. Despite official warnings and a ban since December 2025, the presence of hikers near the crater suggests that safety perimeters are either not strictly enforced or are being ignored by visitors, increasing the risk of casualties during sudden volcanic events.
