A group of hikerss got caught in a nightmare this morning when Mount Dukono in eastern Indonesia violently erupted, sending a towering column of ash and smoke 10 kilometers (over 6 miles) into the sky.
Rescue teams are racing against time on Halmahera Island as at least three hikers have been confirmed dead, two Singaporeans and one Indonesian. Around 10 more people (mostly Indonesians, with some Singaporeans still unaccounted for) remain missing after the blast hit a restricted hiking area.
The victims were part of a group of roughly 20 adventurers who had gone up the mountain despite an active exclusion zone that had been in place since mid-April due to rising volcanic activity. Indonesian authorities are now scrambling with police and search-and-rescue teams to reach the site, but thick ash falls and ongoing eruptions are making access extremely dangerous.
What We Know So Far (May 8, 2026):
- Eruption began around 7:41 AM local time.
- The ash plume rose so high it triggered aviation warnings for nearby flights.
- At least five others were injured with burns and fractures.
- Bodies have not yet been recovered due to the hazardous conditions.
Indonesia sits on the volatile Ring of Fire, so volcanic drama is sadly common here — but today’s event turned deadly because hikers ignored the danger zone.
This is a fast-moving story with Singaporean authorities also assisting in the search for their citizens. Families are waiting anxiously for news as rescue efforts continue through the ash and smoke.
