In a harrowing incident on Mount Dukono, Indonesia, a group of hikers found themselves perilously close to disaster as the volcano erupted without warning. The hikers had just reached the summit when the volcano began to spew thick clouds of smoke and ash, forcing them to make a rapid descent to safety.
Government drone footage captured the dramatic scene as the hikers scrambled down the steep slopes of Dukono, pursued by a growing ash cloud. Despite the imminent danger, some of the group remained at the crater’s edge, observing the eruption before retreating. Remarkably, all hikers escaped without injury.
Mount Dukono, located on Halmahera Island, is part of Indonesia’s Pacific Ring of Fire, a region with 450 active volcanoes. The volcano has been continuously erupting since the 1930s and is currently under a Level II alert, prohibiting visitors from approaching within three kilometers of the crater. This group, however, chose to disregard the warning, venturing closer to the active site.
Dukono, infamous for its violent activity dating back to the 16th century, has been continuously active since 1933. The volcano has claimed lives in previous eruptions, with significant fatalities reported in 1719, 1868, and 1901. The climbers were taken by surprise by the eruption’s intensity, which was captured in a dramatic drone video showing them scrambling down the steep slopes as a massive ash cloud billowed from the crater.
