Three hikers have died and ten others are missing after the eruption of the Dukono volcano on the eastern island of Halmahera, Indonesia. According to police reports, the eruption projected a cloud of ash about 10 kilometers into the air. The images arriving from social media document the extraordinary energy released by the volcano.
“Volcanic activity is increasing”
Erlichson Pasaribu, police chief of the North Halmahera district, told a local broadcaster that the victims were “two foreigners and a resident of Ternate, an island in eastern Indonesia”. Erlichson added that seven people managed to climb down the volcano to safety, but the 10 missing were in an area declared off-limits last month due to increased volcanic activity detected by scientists.
The eruption occurred at dawn today, Friday 8 May. The national disaster management agency said five climbers were injured. Spokesman Abdul Muhari stressed that rescuers continue to search the area in search of the missing “while volcanic activity is increasing”.
Recovery operations are proceeding with extreme difficulty. Emergency vehicles can only reach the lower slopes of the mountain, but the rest of the ascent must be covered on foot. “The roar of the eruption further slows down rescue efforts” said the police chief.
“A deafening roar, the ash cloud is moving north”
Lana Saria, head of the government geological agency, spoke of a “deafening roar” and a column of dense smoke about 10 kilometers high. “The ash cloud is moving north,” he warned. In addition to the public health risks, authorities are reporting possible disruptions to air and road transport in the region. “The city of Tobelo and surrounding residential areas must remain vigilant for the risk of acid rain and volcanic ash.” The incident raises questions about safety: the area was declared a no-go zone last month, after scientists detected an alarming increase in seismic activity. Despite the ban, the groups pushed themselves above the danger line.
(The video above is by Jhon Frengki Manipa).