Quick summary: Three people, including two Singaporean nationals, died after a group of around 20 climbers ascended Mount Dukono in Indonesia despite an official ban, and were caught in an eruption that sent ash 10 kilometres into the air. Seventeen others survived, though five were injured, and multiple local guides now face investigation for negligence. The deaths have renewed scrutiny of risk-taking behaviour driven by social media, as well as the enforcement of safety restrictions around active volcanoes in a country with more than 120 such sites.
Two Singaporean nationals have been confirmed dead after the eruption of Mount Dukono on Indonesia’s Halmahera island. The victims were Heng Wen Qiang Timothy, 30, and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid, 27. An Indonesian woman also died in the incident.
About 20 climbers had set out on Thursday to ascend the nearly 1,355-metre volcano in defiance of safety restrictions. The group became stranded when Dukono erupted at 7:41 am local time on Friday, spewing a thick ash column that rose about 10 kilometres above the summit. The eruption was recorded on seismographs for more than 16 minutes, Indonesia’s Geological Agency said. Seventeen people, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians, survived. Five were injured.
Rescuers found the bodies of the two Singaporeans holding each other under rock debris around the crater rim, said Iwan Ramdani, head of the local rescue agency. The retrieval was complicated by extreme terrain, persistent rainfall, and continued eruptions. The body of the Indonesian woman was recovered on Saturday. All three bodies are undergoing autopsy at a local hospital.
Some 150 personnel with two thermal drones were deployed from Sunday morning, focusing on an area 100–150 metres from the crater rim. Backpacks suspected to belong to the two Singaporeans were also recovered. The search operation has now concluded, Ramdani confirmed. The seven surviving Singaporeans flew home on Sunday, Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said. It was unclear when the bodies of the two who died would be returned.
Authorities had formally closed all hiking routes to Mount Dukono in April. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has long banned activities within a 4-kilometre danger zone around the crater, citing hazards including volcanic explosions, ashfall, and toxic gases. Despite warnings on social media and signs at the site, the group proceeded anyway.
“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,” police chief Erlichson Pasaribu told reporters. He said many people remain determined to climb, driven by the desire to create online content.
Multiple local guides are now under investigation and could face legal action for bringing the hikers close to the crater. “The guides are currently under investigation for alleged negligence resulting in another person’s death,” Erlichson told CNA. The National Disaster Management Agency has warned that entering restricted zones could result in legal sanctions.
Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting almost continuously since 1933. It sits in North Maluku province, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Indonesia is home to more than 120 active volcanoes and lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano has shown an increase in explosive magmatic eruptions since late March, with an average of about 95 eruptions a day. Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported at least four eruptions as of Sunday, with one sending ash 1.3 kilometres high, and is maintaining its third highest alert level for the volcano.
Authorities have also warned of possible secondary hazards including volcanic mudflows, particularly during heavy rain. “When the authorities declare conditions safe, we move closer to the crater area, but when an eruption occurs, we must immediately secure all search personnel from potential danger,” Ramdani said.
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