Rescuers on Saturday recovered the body of an Indonesian woman who was caught in a volcanic eruption at Mount Dukono on Indonesia's remote island of Halmahera a day earlier, as search operations continued to find the bodies of two Singaporean climbers, officials said.
The hikers were among 20 people who set out to ascend the 1,355-meter (4,445-foot) volcano in defiance of safety restrictions and became stranded when Dukono erupted early Friday, spewing a thick ash column that rose about 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the air.
The woman, identified by authorities only as Enjel and known as a local hiker, was located Saturday afternoon, about 50 meters (165 feet) from the rim of the main crater, said Iwan Ramdani, who heads the local Search and Rescue Office. The location of the bodies of two Singaporean climbers remains unknown, and rescue teams are continuing operations amid high volcanic activity.
What the Right Is Saying
Some local tour operators and climbing communities have expressed frustration with what they describe as unclear messaging about when hiking restrictions are enforced. Indonesia's volcanology agency has maintained a four-kilometer (2.5-mile) exclusion zone around Mount Dukono's active crater since December 2024, but critics argue more visible warning systems could improve compliance.
Regional officials in North Maluku have emphasized the challenges of monitoring remote areas like Halmahera Island and have called for additional resources to enforce restrictions on active volcanoes.
What the Left Is Saying
Indonesian disaster management officials have called for stricter enforcement of volcano safety restrictions following the incident. The National Disaster Management Agency warned that entering restricted zones could result in legal sanctions and urged climbers and tour operators to comply with safety recommendations.
The volcanology agency noted that similar restrictions apply to dozens of other active volcanoes across Indonesia currently at elevated alert levels. Local authorities formally closed all hiking routes to Mount Dukono in April and reinforced the ban following Friday's incident, according to officials.
Environmental advocates have pointed to the risks posed by increased tourism to restricted natural areas, arguing that clearer communication about eruption risks could prevent future tragedies.
What the Numbers Show
Mount Dukono has been on the second-highest alert level status since 2008. The volcano stands at 1,355 meters (4,445 feet). Indonesia's volcanology agency reported multiple eruptions from early Saturday through late morning, including ash columns rising as high as 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) above the crater.
Rescue operations involved more than 100 personnel supported by drones. Search efforts focused on a 700-square-meter (7,500-square-foot) area where clues were found during earlier searches. Of the 20 climbers initially stranded, 17 had been safely evacuated as of Saturday morning, including seven Singaporean nationals and two Indonesians who provided information to rescue teams.
Ten of those evacuated suffered minor burn injuries. Indonesia is home to more than 120 active volcanoes and sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
The Bottom Line
Search operations for the two missing Singaporeans remain ongoing as Dukono continues to show elevated volcanic activity with periodic eruptions. Rescuers say they are prioritizing personnel safety while working to locate the remaining bodies in hazardous terrain.
The incident has renewed attention on Indonesia's challenges managing access to dozens of active volcanoes across its archipelago of more than 270 million people. Authorities have warned that legal sanctions may apply to those who enter restricted volcanic zones.