Indonesian authorities have launched an intensive search operation for 20 missing hikers after the eruption of Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island left three people dead.
The active volcano erupted at 7:41 local time on Friday, propelling a massive tower of volcanic ash as high as 10 kilometres into the sky, reports Al Jazeera.
According to a statement from Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, the eruption was accompanied by a “weak to strong booming sound”.
Iwan Ramdani, the head of the local rescue agency, stated that dozens of personnel, including police officers, have been deployed to locate the 20 hikers currently trapped by the eruption. Ramdani further noted that nine of the missing hikers are from Singapore.
The hikers had reportedly entered the area despite it being closed to the public since 17 April. Authorities have warned of the direct threat of ejected rocks and the potential hazards posed by lava flows.
Mount Dukono is considered an extremely active volcano, having recorded close to 200 eruptions since March. Smoke continues to rise from the site in the North Halmahera Regency of North Maluku as search and rescue efforts remain under way.
