Rescuers in Indonesia’s North Maluku province recover bodies after a volcanic eruption on Mount Dukono on the remote island of Halmahera, while searches continue for remaining missing hikers. Reports say rescuers first recovered the body of an Indonesian woman who was caught in the eruption earlier, with recovery announced on Saturday. Subsequent updates say two Singaporean hikers’ bodies are found on Sunday, bringing the total deaths reported across outlets to three.
Officials describe the hikers as part of a group of about 20 people who set out to climb the 1,355-meter volcano despite safety restrictions. They became trapped after the eruption began in the early hours of Friday, producing a thick ash plume estimated at about 10 km into the air. One official quoted by a source says all three victims were located near the main crater—around 50 meters from its rim. Another source notes that thick volcanic material covering the remains complicates digging and slows evacuation and recovery efforts. Rescuers proceed cautiously due to hazardous conditions on the volcano’s slopes.
