Three Dead, Including Two Singaporeans, After Eruption on Indonesia’s Mount Dukono

Rescuers on Indonesia’s remote island of Halmahera found the bodies of two Singaporean hikers on Sunday, two days after they were caught in a volcanic eruption on Mount Dukono. The bodies of Heng Wen Qiang Timothy, aged 30, and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid, aged 27, were located about 50 meters from the rim of the main crater, just a few meters from where the first victim, an Indonesian female hiker identified only as Enjel, was found dead on Saturday.

All three victims were part of a group of 20 hikers who set out on Thursday to ascend the 1,355-meter volcano in North Maluku province.

The men's bodies were covered by thick layers of volcanic material that complicated evacuation efforts. Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesperson, said the densely packed material had slowed progress. “The bodies were buried under deep, densely packed volcanic material that is difficult to dig through,” Muhari said.

The trio acted in defiance of safety restrictions. m. local time on Friday, spewing a thick ash column that rose about 10 kilometers into the air. The eruption was recorded on seismographs for more than 16 minutes, according to Indonesia’s Geological Agency.

About 20 climbers had set out despite the mountain’s high alert status. “ 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,” Erlichson Pasaribu told reporters. Seventeen people were safely evacuated hours after the eruption, including seven Singaporean nationals.

Ten of those evacuated suffered minor burns while five were reported injured. Two of those evacuated joined the rescue operation and provided information to help locate the missing. Search teams involving nearly 100 personnel, later expanded to a team of 150 personnel and two thermal drones deployed on Sunday morning, faced extreme terrain and continuing volcanic activity.

Iwan Ramdani, who heads the local search and rescue department, said the evacuation efforts on Sunday were monitored by volcanology officials as Mount Dukono continued to spew ash, hot material and glowing rocks. “The search operation was repeatedly disrupted by Mount Dukono’s continued volcanic activity,” Ramdani said.

” The bodies of the three victims were transported to an emergency response post before being taken to Tobelo Regional Hospital for identification and further handling, Ramdani said.

The National Disaster Management Agency said the search and rescue operation was now closed. The agency urged residents, tourists and tour operators to comply with safety regulations and avoid restricted areas. Authorities have banned all activities within a 4-kilometer danger zone around the crater, in line with recommendations from Indonesia’s volcanology agency.

The volcanology agency recommended the 4km exclusion zone in December 2024. All hiking routes to Mount Dukono were closed by local authorities in April. Mount Dukono has been on the second-highest alert level status since 2008.

Multiple local guides are being investigated and could face legal action for bringing hikers close to the crater. “The guides are currently under investigation for alleged negligence resulting in another person's death,” Erlichson Pasaribu told CNA.

Mount Dukono has been erupting almost continuously since 1933 and is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire.