Indonesian rescue teams are racing against time to save 20 hikers trapped on Mount Dukono after the volcano erupted violently on Friday morning.
The volcano, located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, erupted at 7:41 AM local time. It sent a massive column of volcanic ash approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into the atmosphere, according to the country’s volcanology agency.
Iwan Ramdani, head of the local rescue agency, confirmed that dozens of personnel, including police officers, have been deployed to the slopes. Among the 20 trapped hikers, nine are Singaporean nationals, while the remaining 11 are Indonesians.
Authorities have maintained the volcano's alert status at Level 3 (the third-highest level). Residents and tourists have been strictly warned to stay at least 4 kilometers away from the crater.
Lana Saria, head of the volcanology agency, also warned of the danger of lahars—deadly volcanic mudflows—which could be triggered if heavy rain washes down the fresh ash deposits.
As of now, there have been no reports of flight disruptions in the region, though aviation authorities continue to monitor the ash cloud's movement.
