Rescuers in North Maluku have located two Singaporean hikers stranded near the summit of Mount Dukono, but intensifying volcanic activity and treacherous terrain have left them unreachable. The hikers were spotted just 20 to 30 meters from the rim of the main crater, a position that has left search teams in a perilous standoff with one of Indonesia’s most volatile peaks.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed the location in an update on May 9, noting that while the hikers have been sighted, the immediate risk of further eruptions makes an evacuation attempt nearly impossible without a high-risk tactical plan. A third hiker, an Indonesian national, remains unaccounted for as a joint task force continues to comb the rugged slopes of the volcano.
The crisis began on May 8 when Mount Dukono erupted violently, sending a massive column of volcanic ash 10 kilometers into the atmosphere. The eruption trapped a group of 20 hikers—consisting of nine Singaporeans and 11 Indonesians—who had ascended the mountain despite a standing climbing ban and a strict exclusion zone established by local authorities.
A High-Stakes Rescue Operation
The search operation has evolved into a complex coordination effort involving 103 personnel from the BNPB, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Indonesian military, police and local volunteers. The team has been divided into four specialized units, each tasked with scouring 0.5 square kilometer sectors around the summit where the missing hikers were last seen.
The operational environment is described as extreme. On May 9, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported multiple eruptions that propelled ash 3,000 meters above the summit. Seismic activity remains intense, signaling that the volcano is still in an active eruptive phase.
Mr. Iwan, a lead official in the briefing, described the mission as a “race against time,” though one dictated by the volcano’s whims. “If an eruption occurs, the search and rescue team must return to a safe point,” he stated. “When conditions are safe, we move closer to the crater area.” This cautious approach is mandated by the Mount Dukono Volcano Observation Post, which has warned that incandescent lava and volcanic debris could be hurled up to 1.5 kilometers from the crater at any moment.
While 17 members of the hiking party have been successfully rescued, the fate of the remaining three remains uncertain. Rescuers and residents of Halmahera island continue to hold hope for a survival outcome, though officials admit the proximity of the Singaporeans to the crater rim is a dire indicator.
Defying the Danger Zone
The incident has raised serious questions regarding the group’s decision to trek the volcano. Local authorities had imposed a climbing ban on April 17, and volcanologists had recently expanded the “no-go” exclusion zone around the crater to 4 kilometers to protect adventurers from the mountain’s unpredictable nature.
Despite these warnings, the group of 20 began their ascent on May 7. The subsequent eruption on May 8 transformed a recreational trek into a survival scenario. Two members of the party who managed to escape unharmed are currently assisting rescuers by helping them retrace the route and identify potential hiding spots or river channels where the missing hikers might have sought cover.
The legal ramifications of the trip are already unfolding. Indonesian police have confirmed that the group’s guide and porter are being questioned. Both individuals could face criminal charges for allegedly leading the hikers into a restricted zone in direct violation of government safety orders.
| Date | Event | Status/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| April 17 | Climbing Ban Imposed | Official closure of Mount Dukono to the public. |
| May 7 | Illegal Ascent | Group of 20 hikers enters the restricted zone. |
| May 8 | Major Eruption | Ash column reaches 10km; 3 hikers go missing. |
| May 9 | Position Located | Two Singaporeans spotted 20-30m from crater rim. |
The Logistics of a Remote Crisis
For the families of the missing Singaporeans, the distance and danger have created a logistical nightmare. A family member told The Straits Times that relatives have been advised against traveling to Ternate for the time being, citing both the volcanic risk and the grueling journey required to reach the site.
The journey to North Halmahera is a multi-stage trek: a flight from Jakarta to Ternate, a 40-minute boat crossing to Sofifi, and a subsequent four-hour drive inland. Because of these constraints, Indonesian authorities have indicated they will only request the presence of next-of-kin on the ground if the situation necessitates immediate legal or medical identification.
In the city of Ternate, the atmosphere is one of quiet anxiety. While the disaster has dominated local conversation, some visitors at Sultan Babullah Airport appeared oblivious to the danger, arriving with hiking gear despite the ongoing emergency. Local residents, such as ride-hailing driver Fakir Abdullah, expressed deep sadness over the event, noting that one of the missing hikers was a local translator from Ternate.
Volatility and Vigilance
Mount Dukono is not a dormant giant; it has remained at Alert Level 2—the second-lowest of four levels—since 2008. Its near-constant ash emissions and stark, otherworldly terrain make it a magnet for regional adventurers, but its remote location often complicates emergency responses.
In response to the May 8 eruption, the North Halmahera administration has issued a second, absolute closure order for the mountain. The government has warned that any further violations of this closure will result in strict sanctions, while the BNPB has used the incident as a broader warning to the public to adhere to volcanic restriction zones across the Indonesian archipelago.
The next critical checkpoint for the operation will be the daily safety briefing from the Mount Dukono Volcano Observation Post. Rescuers are waiting for a window of diminished seismic activity that would allow a specialized team to move within the 4-kilometer exclusion zone to attempt a physical recovery or evacuation of the hikers located near the rim.
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