May 2026 eruption of Dukono
| May 2026 eruption of Dukono | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Volcano | Dukono |
| Start date | 8 May 2026 |
| Start time | 07:14 am local time |
| Location | Halmahera, Indonesia 1°42′0″N 127°52′39″E / 1.70000°N 127.87750°E |
| Impact | 3 dead, 5 injured |
| Maps | |
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On 8 May 2026, the Dukono volcano on the island of Halmahera erupted, killing three people and injuring five others.[1][2][3] Ongoing rumbling from the mountain has slowed down search-and-rescue operations.[4]
Background
[edit]Dukono is an active volcano. Its previous eruption was on 6 April, a month prior, and had no casualties.[5] The volcano was closed to the public after 17 April;[1] despite this, many visitors ignored warnings around the entrances. Neither the local guide nor the villagers also aware of the ban.[6] Some visitors entered with the aim to create social media content.[7]
Eruption
[edit]The eruption took place while there were several people on the mountain doing early morning hikes. The eruption sent a column of ash stretching 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) into the sky.[8]
Search and rescue
[edit]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 is 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.[9]
Casualties
[edit]Three people were presumed killed and the 17 others were rescued of the group of 20. The deceased were identified as two Singaporeans, aged 30 and 27, and an Indonesian woman from Ternate.[8] At least five sustained injuries[4] of the 17 people rescued,[3] while of the three reported dead[4] who remain on the mountain, as of 9 May 2026[update], only the body of the Indonesian woman was retrieved and confirmed dead.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ 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 c "Two Singaporeans among three hikers reported dead after Indonesia's Mount Dukono erupts". CNA. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ Singh, Ritu (6 April 2026). ""Don't Go Down, Come Up": Indonesian Guide's Split-Second Call Saves Hikers As Mount Dukono Erupts". NDTV. Retrieved 8 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.