JAKARTA, Indonesia — Search teams recovered the remains of one woman Saturday following a deadly volcanic eruption at Mount Dukono on Indonesia’s remote Halmahera island, while operations continue to locate two missing Singaporean climbers, according to local officials.
Twenty hikers had attempted to climb the 4,445-foot volcano Friday despite existing safety prohibitions when Dukono suddenly erupted in the early morning hours, sending a massive ash plume approximately 6 miles skyward.
The recovered victim, identified only as Enjel and described as an experienced local climber, was discovered Saturday afternoon roughly 165 feet from the main crater’s edge, according to Iwan Ramdani, director of the local Search and Rescue Office. Two Singaporean climbers remain missing as rescue operations continue despite ongoing volcanic activity.
“The rescue efforts went through a situation that required careful calculation and a well-planned evacuation strategy,” Ramdani explained. “We took into account the potential escalation of volcanic activity as well as the safety of all personnel.”
Seventeen climbers were successfully rescued following the initial eruption, including seven Singapore nationals and two Indonesian climbers who later assisted rescue teams by providing crucial information about climbing paths used by the missing victims. Ten of those evacuated sustained minor burns.
More than 100 rescue personnel supported by drone technology resumed search efforts Saturday morning, concentrating on a 7,500-square-foot zone where evidence was discovered during initial operations, despite dangerous conditions and continued eruptions.
Ramdani emphasized that rescuer safety remains the top priority given Dukono’s elevated volcanic activity.
“The main challenge in this search effort is that we are racing against ongoing eruptions,” Ramdani stated in a video message. “When the authorities declare conditions safe, we move closer to the crater area, but when an eruption occurs, we must immediately secure all search personnel from potential danger.”
Indonesia’s volcanic monitoring agency documented several eruptions from early Saturday through late morning, with ash columns reaching heights of nearly 10,000 feet above the crater. Monitoring stations also recorded lava bursts throughout the overnight hours.
Mount Dukono has maintained the country’s second-highest alert classification since 2008. Officials established a 2.5-mile restricted zone around the active crater in December 2024.
Regional authorities officially prohibited all hiking access to Mount Dukono in April and strengthened the prohibition following Friday’s incident. The National Disaster Management Agency cautioned that violating restricted areas could lead to legal consequences.
The agency called on climbers and tour companies to follow safety guidelines, pointing out that similar restrictions are in effect for dozens of other active volcanoes nationwide that are currently at heightened alert status.
Indonesia, home to over 270 million residents, is located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and contains more than 120 active volcanic peaks.
