Full Breakdown
Fatal Eruption at Mount Dukono Traps Hikers and Sparks a Large-Scale Rescue
5/10/2026, 2:34:53 AM
The Incident
At 07:41 a.m. local time (22:41 GMT Thursday) Mount Dukono on Halmahera erupted, sending a dense ash plume up to 10 km (six miles) into the atmosphere. Twenty people—nine Singaporean nationals and eleven Indonesians—were on the slopes when the blast occurred. Three hikers (two Singaporeans and one Indonesian woman from Ternate) were killed; their bodies remain on the mountain. Seventeen others were evacuated, including seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians, while five suffered minor burns. Search teams continue to locate the two missing Singaporean hikers near the crater rim.
Background & Restrictions
Mount Dukono, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, has been erupting almost continuously since 1933 and recorded nearly 200 eruptions since late March 2026, averaging about 95 per day. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has warned tourists to stay at least 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Malupang Warirang crater since December 2024. A formal climbing ban was imposed in April 2026 after a surge in activity, but hikers still accessed the summit.
Timeline of Events
- 07:41 a.m. (Friday) – Eruption begins; ash column rises, loud booming sound heard.
- 07:45 a.m. – Guide Alex Djangu feels tremors, warns his German clients to descend.
- 08:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Hikers scramble down; rescue teams deploy on the ground.
- 6:00 p.m. – 17 climbers safely evacuated; search suspended for the night.
- May 9 (Saturday) – Drone surveillance identifies the two missing Singaporeans near the crater rim; search resumes with >100 personnel, two thermal drones.
- May 10 (Sunday) – Authorities plan to continue the operation pending safe conditions.
Casualties, Rescue Operations, and Ongoing Search
Rescue leader Iwan Ramdani emphasized a “well-planned evacuation strategy” and noted that “the main challenge … is that we are racing against ongoing eruptions.” Over 100 rescuers, military and police personnel, and two thermal drones have been deployed. The search area focuses on a 700-meter radius around the crater. The guide and a porter have been taken to police custody and may face criminal charges for leading hikers into the prohibited zone.
Official Statements & Responses
- Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu reiterated that the area was officially closed and warned that “many hikers are foreign tourists who wish to create content.”
- PVMBG head Siti Sumilah Rita Susilawati described the exclusion zone as a “recommendation” communicated to local communities.
- Geology Agency director Lana Saria said the eruption was “among the strongest during this period” and warned that ash drifting northward could affect Tobelo and surrounding settlements.
Criticism & Opposition
Tourism operators and local officials have been criticized for inadequate enforcement of the climbing ban. The police chief highlighted the lack of a security post or forest police at the trailhead, noting that “there is no security post controlling entry or exit routes.” Social-media-driven “content creation” was identified as a key driver of the illegal ascent.
On-the-Ground Reports
Guide Alex Djangu captured the eruption on video, describing the scene as “very scary” and recalling, “I saw the small rocks and gravel sliding down because of the tremors, then I told my clients we have to run down.” Witnesses reported supersonic sounds and continuous ash fallout throughout the afternoon.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Alert level: Some agencies list Dukono at Level 2 (second-highest) of Indonesia’s four-tier system, while others cite a third-highest status.
- Death confirmation: Police statements confirmed three fatalities, but the national rescue agency initially said the deaths were unverified.
- Evacuation numbers: Reports vary between 15 and 17 hikers safely descended before the night-time suspension.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I saw the small rocks and gravel sliding down because of the tremors, then I told my clients we have to run down,” — Alex Djangu, mountain guide
- “The rescue efforts went through a situation that required careful calculation and a well-planned evacuation strategy,” — Iwan Ramdani, head of the local rescue agency
- “Friday’s eruption was among the strongest during this period,” — Lana Saria, director of Indonesia’s Geology Agency
- “They were aware that climbing was prohibited as the mountain is a restricted zone due to its high alert status, but insisted on going ahead,” — Erlichson Pasaribu, North Halmahera police chief
- “Speaking to reporters, Susilawati said the no-gone zone was a "recommendation" that the agency made to local governments, adding that they had "communicated it with the local community".” — Siti Sumilah Rita Susilawati, head of PVMBG
What’s Next
Authorities will resume the search when volcanic activity subsides, continue legal investigations into the tour operators, and maintain the 4-km exclusion zone. Ongoing monitoring by PVMBG and the Geology Agency will keep the alert level under review, while health advisories urge residents near Tobelo to wear masks and prepare for possible ashfall.
