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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Search Operation for Mount Dukono Eruption Victims Concludes After Two Singaporeans Recovered

From Tempo · (8h ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The search and rescue operation for 20 hikers caught in the Mount Dukono eruption has officially ended.
  • The operation concluded after the bodies of two Singaporean hikers were recovered on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
  • Authorities have warned the public against climbing the mountain, which remains active, and expressed hope that such incidents will not recur.

The search and rescue operation in North Maluku, Indonesia, for the 20 hikers affected by the Mount Dukono eruption has concluded. The operation, initiated after an SOS signal was received on Friday morning, May 8, 2026, successfully recovered all victims. The final two deceased hikers, both Singaporean nationals, were brought down on Sunday afternoon, May 10, 2026, marking the official end of the mission.

Now the search operation has been officially stopped after all deceased victims have been successfully evacuated. The evacuation team has all descended from the scene.

— Iwan RamdaniAnnouncing the official end of the search and rescue operation.

According to Head of the Ternate SAR Office, Iwan Ramdani, the evacuation process faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, and the ongoing volcanic activity of Mount Dukono. The SAR team managed to evacuate 17 individuals, seven of whom were Singaporean citizens. One Indonesian hiker was recovered on Saturday, followed by the two Singaporeans on Sunday.

Previously, the evacuation of hiker victims proceeded slowly due to unfavorable weather. Heavy rain. Mount Dukono was also still erupting. Several times the evacuation operation had to be stopped.

— Iwan RamdaniDescribing the challenges faced during the evacuation.

Halmahera Utara Police Chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Erlichson Pasaribu, noted that the affected hikers had used the Desa Mamuya route in Galela District, an area that had been closed for climbing since April 17, 2026. He reiterated the warning to the public to refrain from ascending the mountain until the closure status is lifted.

Now the surviving hikers have returned home. We have also asked the public not to climb again until the closure status is revoked.

— Erlichson PasaribuConfirming the return of survivors and reiterating the climbing ban.

Bupati Halmahera Utara, Piet Hein Babua, expressed gratitude to all involved parties for their efforts during the evacuation. He urged the local community to remain vigilant, avoid approaching the crater, and adhere to official guidance. The sentiment from local authorities, as reported by Tempo, is a strong desire for such a tragic event to be the last.

We hope this incident can be the last.

— Piet Hein BabuaExpressing a wish for no further such tragedies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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