Rescuers have located two missing Singaporean hikers near the rim of Mount Dukono's crater after the volcano erupted, but their condition remains unknown. An Indonesian woman hiker was confirmed dead and her body returned to family. Search operations were temporarily suspended due to continued eruptions and are set to resume; police are investigating a tour company for possible negligence. The volcanology agency keeps Dukono at alert level three and enforces a 4 km exclusion zone.
Two Missing Singaporean Hikers Located Near Mount Dukono Crater; Indonesian Hiker Confirmed Dead
FILE PHOTO: People watch as smoke rises after the eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, Indonesia, May 8, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Jhon Frengki Manipa/via REUTERS
Indonesian authorities say they have pinpointed the locations of two missing Singaporean hikers near the rim of Mount Dukono's main crater after the volcano erupted on Halmahera, though it remains unclear whether the pair are alive. Officials also confirmed that an Indonesian woman who had been hiking in the area was found dead and her body has been returned to her family.
Coordinates Identified — "We have identified the coordinates of their locations. It's around the crater rim," said Iwan Ramdani, head of Indonesia's rescue agency. The locations were identified through drone surveillance and matched witness accounts, Ramdani added.
Disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said the two Singaporeans appeared to be roughly 20 to 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) from the rim of the main crater. Search teams used thermal drones alongside ground crews to try to reach the area.
Search Suspended Temporarily — Rescuers temporarily halted operations on Saturday evening because of continued eruptions; the agency said searches were planned to resume on Sunday. Around 100 rescuers, supported by military and police personnel and two thermal drones, were deployed early on Saturday. Evacuations and access were hampered by the island's extreme terrain and ongoing volcanic activity.
Smoke after the eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, Indonesia, May 8, 2026, in this picture obtained from social media. Jhon Frengki Manipa/via REUTERS
Casualty and Evacuations — Authorities evacuated 17 people on Friday — seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians. The body of the Indonesian woman hiker was recovered and handed to her family. Police said the remaining hikers told officers they believed three people were dead, including the two Singaporeans, but that has not been confirmed.
Investigation Underway — Police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said investigators are probing a tour company that organised the climb on suspicion of negligence. Six people have been questioned so far, but no arrests have been made. Authorities are examining why the tour company led tourists to climb Mount Dukono despite a standing ban.
Volcanic Activity And Restrictions — Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province, began erupting on Friday, sending ash plumes up to about 10 km (6 miles) high. Indonesia's volcanology agency maintains the volcano at alert level three — the third-highest level — and enforces a 4 km (2.5 mile) exclusion zone. Local authorities had banned climbing since 2024 and imposed a complete ban in April after increased eruptive activity.
There were no immediate reports of flight disruptions tied to the eruption.
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