Three hikers have died after a volcanic eruption struck Mount Dukono in Indonesia on Friday morning.
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The victims were part of a hiking group made up of 20 Singaporean and Indonesian nationals exploring the mountain when the eruption occurred.
Authorities say rescuers have since located and evacuated the remaining members of the group from the volcano.
Volcano Eruption Turns Deadly as Hikers Caught on Mountain
Videos and images of the dramatic eruption quickly spread online, capturing thick ash clouds blasting into the sky.
Located on North Maluku island, Mount Dukono reportedly sent ash nearly 10 kilometers, or six miles, into the air.
Several hikers were on the mountain during early morning treks when the eruption took place around 7:41 AM local time.
One hiker filmed the eruption up close before realizing the seriousness of the situation. The video has garnered over 5.8 million views on X.
"Oh, it's killed them. Oh my god, they died. Oh, they died," a man can be heard saying as ash engulfed the area.
Local officials later confirmed that the three victims included two Singaporean nationals and one Indonesian resident.
Authorities identified the foreign victims as men aged 30 and 27. Officials have not released the age of the local female victim.
Rescue Efforts Complicated by Repeated Eruptions and Dangerous Terrain
Erlichson Pasaribu, police chief of North Halmahera, said on Friday that the victims' bodies remained on the mountain as recovery operations continued.
Two members of the hiking group, both porters, stayed behind to assist rescue workers searching the area.
Officials say repeated volcanic activity has made recovery efforts extremely difficult. Rugged terrain and ongoing explosive blasts have further complicated operations.
According to the BBC, Mount Dukono has erupted more than 200 times since last March.
Local authorities had previously warned tourists not to climb the volcano, particularly for social media content and filming opportunities.
Despite those warnings, some hikers continued to access the area.
Indonesia's search and rescue agency, Basarnas, said preliminary discussions among officials suggested tourism operators or individuals may have ignored existing safety warnings before allowing the hike to proceed.
Since December 2024, authorities have urged tourists to avoid entering within four kilometers of the volcano's main crater due to the risk of flying rocks, ash, and lava.
