Several Hikers Feared Dead After Indonesia's Mount Dukono Erupts

At least one hiker has been confirmed dead and another two are missing after Indonesia's Mount Dukono erupted yesterday.

Mount Dukono, located on the northern side of the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has been almost constantly active since 1933, making it an incredibly dangerous volcano for hikers. Halmahera, a sparsely-inhabited island in eastern Indonesia, contains several active volcanoes, but Dukono is the most active on the island and one of the most active in the entire country.

Because of this near-constant volcanic activity, the local government has set a 4-kilometer no-go zone around the mountain, though many hikers disregard the restrictions and climb the 4,445-foot volcano without consideration for their safety. Dukono is one of the rare sites in the world where hikers can witness live volcanic activity, and footage of the volcano's caldera and activity has become extremely popular on social media– this inspires other hikers to take the same risks.

Yesterday, the volcano erupted once again, endangering several hikers near the summit. A group of 20 people had initially set out to complete the trek, but one woman was killed by the ensuing explosion as the volcano erupted. 17 of the hikers are safe after extensive evacuations, but at least 10 of them are suffering from minor burn injuries.

Additionally, a search-and-rescue operation is still going as authorities search for two Singaporeans that went missing during the eruption. Locals and drones are currently sweeping the area despite ongoing eruptions, attempting to find the Singaporean tourists before it is too late.

In the meantime, the government has asserted that Dukono is still producing significant eruptions that can pose serious danger to hikers, and all tourists and climbers should follow the law and avoid traveling past the 4-kilometer perimeter around the volcano.

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Image credit to BBC