VIDEO Dramatic scenes from Indonesia: Volcano eruption kills three hikers, search suspended until morning
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Three hikers, including citizens of Singapore and Indonesia, died after an eruption of the Dukono volcano on Halmahera island.
- A rescue operation is underway for over ten hikers trapped near the crater, with bodies of the deceased still on the mountain.
- Dramatic footage captured the massive ash plume, and a guide described the terrifying experience of the eruption.
Tragedy struck the slopes of Mount Dukono as a violent eruption claimed the lives of three climbers, including a Singaporean and an Indonesian national. The incident, which occurred on Friday morning, has left more than ten other hikers stranded near the crater, prompting an urgent search and rescue operation. Dramatic footage shows a colossal plume of smoke and ash billowing from the volcano, painting a grim picture of the event. Alex Djangu, an Indonesian mountain guide who was leading two German tourists, recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the eruption. He described hearing strange sounds from below the crater before a massive explosion. Djangu managed to escape with his clients after noticing the danger, but many others were caught near the summit. The bodies of the deceased remain on the mountain as the search continues, with rescue efforts suspended until Saturday morning. This incident highlights the inherent dangers of exploring active volcanoes and underscores the need for stringent safety measures and adherence to warnings.
When the big eruption happened at 7:41 AM on Friday, it seemed like the group had just arrived at the top and were enjoying themselves.
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.