Dukono volcano in Indonesia's North Maluku province erupted on Sunday, 17 May, sending a column of grey ash soaring up to 5,000 metres above its peak, according to the country's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. The 1,087-metre volcano is currently on the second-highest alert level, and authorities have cordoned off a 4-km exclusion zone around the crater.

Immediate Safety Warnings

Officials urged residents and visitors to stay clear of all activity within a 4-km radius of the crater. Authorities also advised people in the surrounding areas to keep face masks on hand to guard against respiratory risks from volcanic ash fall. The exclusion zone applies to both locals and tourists.

Earlier Eruption Claimed Three Lives

The Sunday eruption follows a deadly incident earlier this month in which three people were killed after Mount Dukono erupted. Of the others caught in the vicinity, 15 people were found safe — among them seven Singaporean nationals and eight Indonesian citizens. Rescue operations were hampered because the bodies were buried under a significant volume of volcanic material, delaying evacuation. The remains were subsequently transported to Tobelo Regional Hospital for identification and further processing.

Hiking Ban Violated Despite Closure Since April

The Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) — Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure — expressed regret that climbers had ventured onto the mountain despite a complete closure of the Mount Dukono hiking route since 17 April. Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre, warned: '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.'

Aviation Alert Issued After February Eruption

This is not the first time Dukono has disrupted the region in 2025. In February, the volcano — situated on Halmahera Island — erupted and sent an ash column up to 2,000 metres into the sky, with thick white-to-grey clouds drifting south of the crater. A Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) was issued at the orange level, the second-highest aviation warning, prohibiting aircraft from flying below 5 km around the volcano and cautioning pilots about ash clouds that can disrupt flight systems.

A Volcano With a History of Activity

Dukono is one of Indonesia's most persistently active volcanoes. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it home to more than 130 active volcanoes. Repeated eruptions at Dukono — in February and now in May — underscore the chronic risk to communities and aviation in the North Maluku region. Authorities have not yet indicated when the alert level may be downgraded, and the situation remains under active monitoring.