Mount Dukono erupts in eastern Indonesia
Three hikers, including two foreign nationals, have died, and ten others remain missing following a major volcanic eruption at Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island in eastern Indonesia.
Authorities said the eruption on Friday sent volcanic ash up to 10 kilometres into the atmosphere, triggering an emergency response in the area.
Casualties confirmed and search ongoing
Local police confirmed that the volcano eruption in Indonesia resulted in three fatalities – two foreigners and one Indonesian resident from Ternate.
Seven people managed to descend safely from the mountain, while search and rescue teams continue to locate the missing hikers.
Joint teams from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) are operating in the area despite increased volcanic activity.
Ash cloud rises 10 kilometres
Geological authorities reported that the early morning eruption was accompanied by a loud rumbling sound and a dense ash plume rising approximately 10 kilometres above the summit of Mount Dukono.
Officials warned that the ash cloud could pose serious health risks to nearby communities.
Area previously declared off-limits
The affected zone had been declared off-limits to visitors last month after scientists detected increased volcanic activity.
Despite the restriction, some hikers were reportedly in the area when the volcano eruption in Indonesia occurred.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire
Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where tectonic plates meet.
The country has nearly 130 active volcanoes, making volcanic eruptions a recurring natural hazard.
Mount Dukono is currently at the second alert level in Indonesia’s four-tier volcanic warning system.
Source: CNA
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