• The incident prompted the evacuation of dozens, while several others remain unreachable due to hazardous conditions

Mount Dukono in Indonesia erupted on Friday, killing three hikers after they ignored safety warnings and continued their climb toward the active volcano.

Local police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said the victims were two men from Singapore and an Indonesian woman. They were part of a group of around 20 hikers who began their ascent on Thursday, despite official warnings and the area being declared off-limits.

Authorities confirmed the hikers were trapped in a danger zone when the eruption occurred, sending a dense ash column up to around 10 kilometres into the sky and triggering seismic activity that lasted more than 16 minutes.

Rescue teams managed to evacuate 17 hikers safely, including five who sustained varying degrees of injury. However, the recovery of the victims’ bodies has not yet been possible due to ongoing volcanic activity and difficult access to the site.

Pasaribu said in a televised statement that the group was aware of the climbing ban but chose to proceed anyway, noting that some visitors disregard warnings in pursuit of social media content.

Mount Dukono is among several restricted volcanic areas due to continuous activity. Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Emergency services continue search and rescue operations, while authorities have reiterated warnings for residents and tourists to strictly follow official instructions and avoid dangerous zones as volcanic threat levels remain elevated.