Three dead, several injured after Indonesian volcano erupts
Mount Dukono in Indonesia’s North Maluku province erupted on May 8, killing three people—two Singaporeans and one Indonesian—and injuring at least five climbers, while an ash column rose over 10,000 meters. Authorities continue search-and-rescue efforts and investigate potential negligence by tourism operators despite prior warnings about climbing restrictions.
Indonesia’s Mount Dukono erupted on May 8 at approximately 7:41 a.m. local time, sending an ash column over 10,000 meters above its summit. The eruption killed three people—two Singaporeans and one Indonesian—while at least five climbers were injured, according to North Halmahera Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu and Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The volcano, located in North Maluku province, had shown increased seismic and visual activity since March 29, prompting a Level II alert—the second-lowest warning level in Indonesia’s four-tier system. Despite the alert and a closure of the climbing area, authorities suspect negligence by tourism operators who allowed climbers to ascend the mountain. A joint search-and-rescue (SAR) team is still searching for missing climbers and evacuating those in distress. BNPB confirmed that the eruption remains ongoing, with ongoing assessments of affected residents and climbers. Mount Dukono’s activity had been monitored by MAGMA Indonesia, the government-run geological hazards platform, which reported the eruption in a statement. The agency noted that the ash plume was drifting northward, posing potential risks to nearby areas. Investigations are underway to determine the full timeline of events, including why climbing activities continued despite warnings. BNPB stated that the government will take further action based on findings.
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