SAR Team Still Searching for 3 Climbers Missing After Dukono Mountain Eruption
JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) informed that the joint SAR team was still carrying out search operations for three climbers who were missing after the eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku.
Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said two of the three missing climbers were Foreign Nationals (WNA), while the other was an Indonesian Citizen (WNI).
"On the second day of this operation, the team focused on searching in the area suspected of being the victim's whereabouts. The position of the two foreigners was detected at a distance of 20 to 30 meters from the edge of the main crater," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, May 9.
BNPB reported that although the position of the two foreigners was known, the evacuation process could not be carried out because of the extreme terrain conditions and the volcanic activity of Mount Dukono which was still very high.
Meanwhile, one Indonesian climber is still in the process of tracking and has not been detected.
Abdul emphasized that all personnel in the field must prioritize safety and follow the recommendations of the Dukono Volcano Observation Post (PGA) from the Geological Agency considering the status of the mountain is at Level II (Alert).
As information from the PGA, it is known that the seismic activity is still dominated by eruption earthquakes with large amplitudes.
Since Saturday (9/5) early morning until 11.00 WIT, several eruptions were recorded with an ash column height of 3,000 meters above the peak.
BNPB regrets the climbing activity, considering that the North Halmahera Regency Government (Pemkab) has closed the total climbing route of Mount Dukono since April 17, 2026. The public and tourists are prohibited from entering the disaster-prone area within a radius of four kilometers from the crater peak.
In order to prevent similar incidents, BNPB reminds the public to always comply with the recommendations of the Geological Agency regarding restrictions on activities in other active volcanoes that are in the Alert and Warning status, such as Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in NTT, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, to Mount Semeru in East Java.
"We ask climbing service operators and the public to actively socialize the closure of this route. Any violation of these provisions may be subject to sanctions in accordance with applicable regulations for the safety of life," said AbdulMuhari.