A volcanic eruption on Indonesia's Mount Dukono on Friday morning sent a column of ash 10 kilometers into the sky, killing three hikers and prompting a rescue operation for a group of 20.

The victims, two Singaporeans and one Indonesian, were part of a group that ignored official warnings and climbed the active volcano on North Maluku island. The rest of the group was safely evacuated.

North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said the bodies remain on the mountain due to ongoing eruptions and difficult terrain. Two porters stayed behind to assist rescuers.

Mount Dukono has erupted over 200 times since March 2024. Authorities had issued warnings against climbing, but some hikers disregarded them, according to officials.

The rescue operation paused at nightfall and will resume Saturday. The volcano continues to eject ash and rock material.

Indonesia's search and rescue agency Barsanas is investigating possible negligence by tour operators. The volcano is at alert level two, with a 4-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater.

Source: www.bbc.com