Rescuers have recovered the body of an Indonesian woman caught in a volcanic eruption on Mount Dukono, on the remote island of Halmahera, officials said on Saturday. The woman, identified only as Enjel, was found about 50 metres from the crater rim, according to Iwan Ramdani, head of the local search and rescue office. The search continues for two missing Singaporean climbers.
The group of 20 hikers, including seven Singaporeans, set out to scale the 1,355-metre volcano despite safety restrictions. Mount Dukono erupted early on Friday, spewing a thick ash column about 10 kilometres into the air. Seventeen hikers have been safely evacuated, ten of whom suffered minor burn injuries.
Search operations involve more than 100 personnel supported by drones, focusing on a 700-square-metre area where clues were found earlier. However, ongoing volcanic activity poses significant challenges. “The main challenge is that we are racing against eruptions,” Ramdani said. “When conditions are safe, we move closer to the crater; when an eruption occurs, we must secure all personnel.”
Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported a series of eruptions on Saturday, with ash columns rising to 3,000 metres and lava bursts overnight. Mount Dukono has been on the second-highest alert level since 2008, and a 4-kilometre exclusion zone was recommended in December 2024. All hiking routes were closed in April, and authorities warn that entering restricted zones could result in legal sanctions.
