Three hikers have died and several others are hospitalized after a volcanic eruption on Indonesia's Maluku Islands. Mount Dukono erupted at 7:41 a.m. local time on Friday, spewing a column of ash 10 kilometers into the sky. The eruption was accompanied by "weak to strong rumblings," according to Indonesian authorities.
Victims and evacuations
North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu confirmed that three hikers, including two foreign nationals from Singapore, died after being trapped by the eruption. The BBC reported that 15 people were evacuated from the 1,335-meter-high mountain and taken to hospitals for treatment. A group of 17 Indonesian and Singaporean hikers was found and evacuated following the eruption.
Rescue efforts
Two members of the 20-person hiking group remained behind to assist rescue teams in recovering the bodies of the three deceased individuals. Pasaribu noted that the group had entered Mount Dukono despite an official climbing ban imposed due to recent volcanic activity.
