Volcano kills three hikers 'driven to create online content' as they defy warnings

Three hikers died after defying safety warnings on a volcano to create online content. Around 20 climbers set out on Thursday to ascend the nearly 1,355-metre (4,445ft) Mount Dukono volcano on the island of Halmahera, in defiance of safety restrictions, said North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu. Despite warnings on social media and signs at the site, “many people remain determined to climb, driven by the desire to create online content”, Pasaribu said. The volcano erupted, which led to the deaths of three of the hikers. They had become stranded when Dukono erupted at 7:41am local time, spewing a thick ash column that rose about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) above the summit. “They were aware that climbing was prohibited as the mountain is the restricted zone due to its high alert status, but insisted on going ahead,” Pasaribu said in a television interview. Rescue teams were deployed after receiving an emergency signal from the mountain area. Three men – two Singaporean and one Indonesian national – died at the scene, Pasaribu said. Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting almost continuously since 1933. The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has long banned activities within a 2.5‑mile radius of Dukono’s crater, citing hazards such as volcanic bombs, ashfall and toxic gases. Officials believe the hikers were inside the restricted zone at the time of the eruption. As of Friday afternoon, 14 climbers including seven foreign nationals had been safely evacuated. Five of those evacuated were reported injured. Authorities have discussed "possible negligence by tourism operators or individuals" who went ahead with the climb despite an official closure of the hiking area, according to a statement from Barsanas, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency. "The government is continuing to gather information to establish a complete account of the incident," the statement said. The bodies of those who died have not been recovered. Continued eruptions makes the area too dangerous for rescue teams. Rescue teams continued to search for other climbers believed to be attempting to descend, however. The eruption was recorded on seismographs for more than 16 minutes, Indonesia’s Geological Agency said. Aldy, a local resident who joined the rescue effort, said he could see "ash and rock material continuously being ejected" from the shelter where he and his team are working, around 2km (1.3mi) from the summit. “The conditions at the last shelter are safe; we are currently holding discussions for the rescue operation," he told the BBC . Aldy said the team had found two of the victims near the summit but struggled to reach them. The exact location of the third victim is not yet known, he added. "From the shelter, we can see ash and rock material continuously being ejected," he said. Indonesia sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity, and is home to more than 120 active volcanoes. Authorities also warned of possible secondary hazards, including volcanic mudflows, especially during heavy rain, which could travel along rivers flowing from the volcano’s slopes. Volcanic activity at Dukono remains high, and authorities said it was at the second highest alert level. Authorities said the volcano has shown an increase in explosive magmatic eruptions since late March, with nearly 200 eruptions recorded since March 30 and an average of about 95 eruptions a day. “Friday’s eruption was among the strongest during this period,” said Lana Saria, who heads Indonesia’s Geology Agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. She added that ash clouds ranging from white to grey and black in colour were being blown northward. She warned that ashfall could affect nearby settlements, including the town of Tobelo, raising health risks and disrupting transportation and daily life. Officials urged residents, tourists and climbers to remain calm, follow official guidance and avoid restricted areas as monitoring of Mount Dukono continues.