Dukono is an active volcano located in the northern part of Halmahera island, the largest of the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. It has a broad profile and is capped by compound craters. During the major eruption in 1550, a lava flow filled in the strait between Halmahera and the north flank cone of Mount Mamuya.[1] It was an eruption of scale 3 on VEI. Deaths were reported but the figure is unknown. Smaller eruptions occurred in 1719, 1868, and 1901.[3] Since 1933, Dukono has been erupting continuously until the present.[1]
Eruptions in 2014 increased since early spring. Ash clouds rose up to 2.5 km (1.6 mi) height and volcanic lightning were observed and photographed on 11 June. Strombolian eruptions spew lava bombs on the outer flank of the crater cone.[4]
On 6 April 2026 it erupted when a group was trekking nearby the volcanic mountain. No casualties were reported.[5] The volcano was closed to the public after 17 April;[6] despite this, many visitors ignored warnings around the entrances.
May 2026 eruption
On 8 May 2026 the volcano erupted again, killing three people and injuring five others.[6][7][8] The ongoing rumbling from the mountain had slowed down search-and-rescue operations,[9] which was completed on 10 May 2026.[10] Neither the local guide nor the villagers were aware of the climbing ban since April.[11][clarification needed] Some visitors entered with the aim to create social media content.[12]
The eruption sent a column of ash stretching 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) into the sky.[13]
At least 100 rescuers, military and police personnel, as well as two thermal drones, were deployed to the volcano to try and locate the missing hikers. The search was focused around the crater, covering an area of around 700 metres (2,300 ft). The search was halted on Friday evening as the volcano was still erupting. On Saturday, searches were hampered by four morning eruptions.[14] It was completed on 10 May 2026.[10]
Three people were killed and 17 others were rescued of the group of 20 hikers. The deceased were identified as two Singaporeans, aged 30 and 27, and an Indonesian woman from Ternate.[13] At least five sustained injuries[9] of the 17 people rescued.[8] The body of the Indonesian woman was retrieved on 9 May 2026[8] while the bodies of the two Singaporeans were retrieved on 10 May 2026.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d “Dukono”. Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ Wong, Tessa (8 May 2026). “Mount Dukono: Three hikers dead after volcano eruption on Indonesian island”. www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ “Dukono, Halmahera Arc Volcanoes, Indonesia”. Volcano World. Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ “Dukono Volcano (Halmahera, Indonesia): Stronger-than-usual Explosions Continue”. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ ““Don’t Go Down, Come Up”: Indonesian Guide’s Split-Second Call Saves Hikers As Mount Dukono Erupts”.
- ^ a b “Indonesia volcano kills three as search for 20 missing hikers under way”. Al Jazeera. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ Regan, Helen; Yee, Isaac; Jamaluddin, Masrur (8 May 2026). “Multiple hikers killed, others rescued after volcano erupts in Indonesia”. CNN. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ a b c “Rescuers find body of Indonesian hiker on Mount Dukono, locate position of two Singaporean hikers”. The Straits Times. 9 May 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ^ a b “Two Singaporeans among three hikers reported dead after Indonesia’s Mount Dukono erupts”. CNA. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ a b c Tehusijarana, Karina; Arshad, Arlina (10 May 2026). “Two missing S’porean hikers confirmed dead in Indonesian volcano eruption”. The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ Karina Tehusijarana; Arlina Arshad (9 May 2026). “‘I could only stand and watch’: Indonesian guide recalls trying to save S’poreans on Mount Dukono”. CNA. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ^ “Three hikers dead and 10 missing after Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano erupts”. The Guardian. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ a b Wong, Tesa (8 May 2026). “Three dead after volcano erupts on Indonesian island”. BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ “Indonesia resumes search for three hikers missing after Mount Dukono eruption”. Reuters. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
External links
Media related to Dukono at Wikimedia Commons- Photogallery Dukono