Indonesian rescuers find 1 body after volcano eruption as search continues for 2 more
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Rescuers recovered the body of an Indonesian woman, Enjel, who was caught in Mount Dukono's volcanic eruption on Halmahera island, while search efforts continue for two missing Singaporean climbers.
- The hikers, totaling 20, had ignored safety restrictions to ascend the 1,355-meter volcano and became stranded when Dukono erupted early Friday, sending ash columns up to 10 kilometers high.
- Seventeen climbers were safely evacuated after the eruption, with ten sustaining minor burns; rescue operations involve over 100 personnel and drones, focusing on a 700 square-meter area despite ongoing volcanic activity.
- Mount Dukono has been at the second-highest alert level since 2008, with a four-kilometer exclusion zone and formal hiking bans enforced since April 2024, which were reinforced following the incident.
- Authorities emphasize strict compliance with volcanic safety rules, warning of legal consequences for entering restricted zones, as Indonesia faces heightened volcanic risks due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
