A tragic volcanic eruption at Mount Dukono on the Indonesian island of Halmahera has resulted in the deaths of three hikers. The active volcano, located east of Sulawesi, erupted on Friday morning, sending massive plumes of ash soaring approximately 10 kilometers into the atmosphere. The sudden activity caught a group of 20 hikers on the slopes, triggering an urgent search and rescue operation.

Authorities confirmed that all survivors from the group have been located, with most individuals successfully evacuated and transferred to local hospitals for medical care. Two porters remained on the mountain to assist rescue teams in recovering the bodies of the deceased, which included two foreign nationals and one local resident. The group had reportedly been hiking in an area subject to a pre-existing climbing ban.

Among the hikers were nine citizens from Singapore. The incident has drawn attention to the risks associated with trekking on high-risk active volcanoes, particularly when official warnings and access restrictions are ignored. Local officials are currently investigating the circumstances that allowed the group to bypass safety protocols and venture onto the mountain during a period of heightened volcanic activity.