Indonesia Locates Two Singaporeans Missing After Mount Dukono Eruption

World

Both appeared to be 20 to 30 metres from the ‌rim of the main crater, said disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari

By Reuters Published: 2026-05-09T10:55:00+04:00 2 min read

The volcanic eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, Indonesia, May 8, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Aleksius Djangu/via REUTERS

The volcanic eruption of Mount Dukono in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, Indonesia, May 8, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Aleksius Djangu/via REUTERS

 Indonesian ‌authorities on Saturday ​located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on the Pacific island of Halmahera, officials said, but it was unclear whether they were alive.

"We have identified the coordinates of their locations. It's around the crater rim," Iwan ⁠Ramdani, the head of Indonesia's rescue agency, told Reuters. "This is on drone surveillance and is consistent with witness accounts."

Both appeared to be 20 to 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) from the ‌rim of the main crater, said disaster mitigation agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari.

Rescuers have not located an Indonesian missing since the volcano in ‌North Maluku province began erupting on Friday, spewing ash ‌as high as 10 km (6 miles).

Survivors told police the ‌three missing people were ‌dead, police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said on Friday.

At least 100 rescuers, military and police ​personnel, as well as ‌two thermal drones, ​have been deployed, focusing the search ⁠around the crater, covering an area around 700 metres, Iwan said.

Evacuations were hampered by extreme terrain and continued eruptions. Authorities on Friday ​evacuated ⁠17 people - seven Singaporeans ⁠and 10 Indonesians.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassy in Jakarta were working with the Indonesian authorities to gather information and provide ⁠consular assistance and support to the affected Singaporeans and their families, the ministry said in a statement.

The volcanology agency is maintaining the third-highest alert level for Mount Dukono, said Lana Saria, the agency's head, adding that residents and tourists were advised ‌not to do any activities within 4 km (2.5 miles) of the crater.

There were no ​reports of flight disruptions caused by the eruption.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an area of high seismic activity atop various tectonic plates. 

RECENT NEWS

5 Killed As Indian Air Force Transport Aircraft Crashes In Assam

NEW DELHI: Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed when a transport aircraft crashed during a routine training flig... Read more

Kushner Project Being Developed On Disputed Land, Albanian Villagers Say

ZVERNEC, Albania: When Kostaq Konomi approached what he says is his land on the seafront in southern Albania last month... Read more

Trump's Name Removed From Kennedy Center In Predawn Operation

WASHINGTON: Workers stripped U.S. President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center early on Saturday, less than si... Read more

Trump Administration Misses Deadline To Remove His Name From Kennedy Center

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration missed the court-mandated deadline to remove President Donald Trump's name from th... Read more

Woman Critically Injured In Shark Attack Off Sydneys Coogee Beach

MELBOURNE: A woman was critically injured off a popular Sydney beach on Saturday in the latest in a spate of shark atta... Read more

Iran Peace Deal Looms While New Military Action Flares Near Strait Of Hormuz

The United States and Iran signaled on Friday that an agreement to end their ‌war was close, with a senior U.S. ​ad... Read more