Mount Dukono Update: Body Of Indonesian Woman Recovered As Search Operation Continues
Rescuers have recovered the body of an Indonesian woman while the search for two Singaporeans continues after they were caught in a volcanic eruption on Mount Dukono.
Twenty people had set out to scale the 4,445ft volcano located on Indonesia’s remote island of Halmahera. They were stranded in the area after Dukono erupted on Friday, sending ash clouds about 6 miles into the air.
Local media identified the deceased Indonesian woman by her first name Enjel. She was found close to the rim of the main crater. Iwan Ramdani, who heads the local search and rescue office, said that the location of the two Singaporean climbers remains unknown.
“The rescue efforts went through a situation that required careful calculation and a well-planned evacuation strategy,” Ramdani said, according to the Guardian. “We took into account the potential escalation of volcanic activity as well as the safety of all personnel.”
So far, rescuers have safely evacuated 17 hikers, including seven Singaporean nationals and two Indonesians. Ten of those evacuated suffered minor burn injuries when Dukono, among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted at 7:41 a.m. local time on Friday.
“The public only sees those who successfully descend and post dramatic content, while potential threats that did not occur at the time become invisible. The real danger remains and could emerge at any time,” Dr Daryono, a member of the Indonesian Association of Disaster Experts, told BBC News.
Authorities Suggest Negligence
Authorities suggest “possible negligence by tourism operators or individuals” who went to climb Mount Dukono despite the hiking area closure, according to a statement from Barsanas, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency.
After eruptions were recorded in April, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation warned the public to maintain a safe distance from the crater, marking the site a Level Two alert status.
Since late March, Mount Dukono has erupted nearly 200 times. Despite several warnings, the volcano keeps attracting hikers, especially those who enjoy extreme climbing situations.
Indonesia and other volcanoes
Key active volcanoes besides popular tourist spots include Mount Dukono that has been active since 2024.
Mount Dukono has erupted nearly 200 times since late March, according to the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, commonly known as PVMBG regularly update recommendations to avoid danger zones as many erupt consistently.
Mount Dukono in Indonesia last erupted on May 8, 2026.
