Mount Dukono eruption: 3 dead, climbers missing as rescue ops continue
Synopsis
Three climbers went missing and three others were killed after Mount Dukono erupted without warning in Indonesia, despite the hiking route being closed since 17 April. Two foreign nationals have been located just metres from the crater rim, but extreme terrain and ongoing volcanic activity are blocking evacuation — a stark illustration of the deadly risks of ignoring official exclusion zones.
Key Takeaways
Mount Dukono in North Maluku, Indonesia erupted on Friday, 9 May 2025 , sending ash 10 km into the sky.
Three people were killed and three climbers remain missing — two foreign nationals and one Indonesian.
The two foreign nationals were located 20–30 metres from the main crater rim but could not be evacuated due to extreme terrain and ongoing volcanic activity.
The hiking route on Mount Dukono had been fully closed since 17 April ; the climbers were present in violation of that closure.
Residents have been warned to stay outside a 4-km radius of the crater; volcanic mudflows are possible during rainfall.
Mount Dukono stands 1,087 metres above sea level and is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes .
Search and rescue teams in Indonesia pressed on with operations on Saturday, 10 May 2025, looking for three missing climbers — including two foreign nationals — following the sudden eruption of Mount Dukono in North Maluku province. Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that three people were killed in the eruption, which sent a volcanic ash column nearly 10 km into the sky on Friday morning.
State of the Search Operation
Abdul Muhari, BNPB's Head of Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre, said rescue teams on the second day of operations focused their search on the area where the victims were believed to be located. The two foreign national climbers were detected approximately 20 to 30 metres from the rim of the main crater, but evacuation had not yet been carried out due to extreme terrain and high ongoing volcanic activity. The Indonesian climber had not been located as of Saturday.
How the Eruption Unfolded
Mount Dukono erupted at approximately 7:40 am local time on Friday, sending a towering column of volcanic ash up to about 10 km into the sky. The eruption was described as sudden, catching the climbers off guard. Local police confirmed that three people were killed as a direct result of the eruption. Rescue authorities subsequently warned residents not to conduct any activities within a 4-km radius of the crater and cautioned that volcanic mudflows could occur during periods of rainfall.
Closed Route and Regulatory Concerns
BNPB expressed regret that the climbers had ventured onto the mountain despite the hiking route being fully closed since 17 April by authorities. Muhari urged hiking operators and the general public to help disseminate information about the closure. "We urge hiking operators and the public to help disseminate information about the route closure. Violations may result in sanctions under prevailing regulations to ensure public safety," Muhari said. BNPB also called on the public to comply with recommendations from the Geological Agency on activity restrictions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About Mount Dukono
Mount Dukono, standing 1,087 metres above sea level, is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes. It is located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku and is among the country's most persistently active volcanic peaks. This incident underscores the recurring challenge Indonesian authorities face in enforcing safety exclusion zones around active volcanoes, particularly when unauthorised climbing activity continues despite formal closures. As rescue operations remain ongoing, the fate of the missing Indonesian climber and the logistics of evacuating the two located foreign nationals will depend heavily on a reduction in volcanic activity at the site.
Point of View
Not just awareness. Indonesia manages 127 active volcanoes and routinely issues closures, but the gap between issuing a restriction and actually preventing access remains dangerously wide. BNPB's appeal to hiking operators to help disseminate closure information suggests the agency is relying on voluntary compliance rather than physical barriers or enforceable penalties — a systemic vulnerability this tragedy has once again exposed. Until exclusion-zone enforcement is properly resourced and legally reinforced, similar incidents are likely to recur.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Mount Dukono in Indonesia?
Mount Dukono, an active volcano on Halmahera Island in North Maluku, Indonesia, erupted suddenly at around 7:40 am local time on Friday, 9 May 2025, sending a volcanic ash column approximately 10 km into the sky. Three people were killed and three climbers went missing as a result of the eruption.
Were the missing climbers found?
Two of the three missing climbers — both foreign nationals — were located approximately 20 to 30 metres from the rim of the main crater. However, evacuation had not been carried out as of Saturday due to extreme terrain and high volcanic activity. The third missing climber, an Indonesian national, had not been located.
Was it legal to climb Mount Dukono at the time of the eruption?
No. The Mount Dukono hiking route had been fully closed since 17 April by authorities. BNPB expressed regret that the climbers were present on the mountain in violation of this closure and warned that violations may result in sanctions under prevailing regulations.
What safety precautions have been issued following the eruption?
Rescue authorities have warned residents not to conduct any activities within a 4-km radius of the crater. Authorities have also cautioned that volcanic mudflows could occur during rainfall and urged the public to follow Geological Agency recommendations on activity restrictions.
How active is Mount Dukono?
Mount Dukono stands 1,087 metres above sea level and is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes. It is located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku and is among the country's most persistently active volcanic peaks.
