Body Recovered as Search for Missing Singaporeans Continues Amid Mount Dukono Eruptions

TL;DR: Rescuers recovered the body of an Indonesian woman on Halmahera as the search for two missing Singaporeans continues amid renewed eruptions of Mount Dukono.

Context Mount Dukono, a 1,355‑metre stratovolcano on Indonesia’s Halmahera island, has been on the second‑highest alert level since 2008. In December 2024 the volcanology agency advised a 4‑km exclusion zone around the active crater, a ban reinforced by local authorities in April. Despite the restrictions, a group of 20 hikers set out early Friday, defying the warning, and became stranded when the volcano erupted, sending an ash column roughly 3,000 metres into the air.

Key Facts On Saturday afternoon rescuers located the body of Enjel, a local hiker, about 50 metres from the crater rim. Seventeen hikers were evacuated, ten of whom suffered minor burn injuries—roughly 59 % of those rescued. Iwan Ramdani, head of the local search and rescue office, said the main challenge is “racing against eruptions,” noting that teams advance only when authorities declare conditions safe and retreat immediately when new bursts occur. The operation involves more than 100 personnel supported by drones, focusing on a 700‑square‑metre area where earlier clues were found. Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported ongoing eruptions from early Saturday into late morning, with ash columns reaching 3,000 metres and lava bursts observed overnight.

What It Means The persistent volcanic activity complicates rescue efforts and underscores the dangers of ignoring exclusion zones. PVMBG relies on a network of seismometers, tiltmeters, gas analyzers, and satellite thermal imaging to quantify eruption parameters such as plume height and lava output, issuing real‑time alerts that guide evacuation and search tactics. The incident may prompt a review of enforcement measures and public awareness campaigns on volcanic risks. Authorities will monitor seismic trends and gas emissions over the next 48 hours to decide whether to expand the search zone or suspend operations.

What to watch next: further eruptive pulses, the status of the two missing Singaporeans, and any adjustments to the exclusion zone based on PVMBG’s ongoing assessments.