Three hikers killed after climbing restricted Indonesian volcano to create online content, police say

Three radical are dormant and 5 others were injured Friday erstwhile Mount Dukono erupted connected a distant Indonesian island, wherever the hikers were successful a restricted area, authorities said.

About 20 climbers acceptable retired Thursday to ascent the astir 1,355-meter (4,445-foot) volcano successful Halmahera, Indonesia, contempt information restrictions, North Halmahera constabulary main Erlichson Pasaribu said.

"They were alert that climbing was prohibited arsenic the upland is simply a restricted portion owed to its precocious alert status, but insisted connected going ahead," Pasaribu said.

Despite warnings connected societal media and signs astatine the site, "many radical stay determined to climb, driven by the tendency to make online content," Pasaribu said.

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In this photograph released by the Badan Geologi, the geological bureau of Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Dukono releases volcanic materials during an eruption successful North Halmahera, Indonesia, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Badan Geologi via AP)

Pasaribu said that 3 people, including 1 section nonmigratory and 2 Singaporeans, were killed successful the eruption. The Indonesian unfortunate was from Ternate, which is successful the aforesaid state arsenic Mount Dukono.

The 3 victims' bodies stay connected the volcano, with ongoing eruptions and hard terrain preventing them from being evacuated by rescue teams, Pasaribu said.

The radical became stranded erstwhile the volcano erupted astatine 7:41 a.m. section time, sending a file of ash implicit six miles into the sky.

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Rescue teams were deployed aft receiving an exigency awesome from the upland area.

Joint hunt and rescue (SAR) teams hole to evacuate victims affected by the eruption of Mount Dukono successful North Halmahera, Maluku Province, Indonesia, connected May 08, 2026. At slightest 3 Singaporeans person been killed, portion 17 others are inactive being searched for. (Basarnas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

As of Friday afternoon, 17 climbers had been safely evacuated, including 7 Singaporean nationals and 2 Indonesians who joined the rescue cognition and provided accusation connected climbing routes of the victims earlier the eruption, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.

Five of those evacuated were reported injured.

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Joint hunt and rescue (SAR) teams hole to evacuate victims affected by the eruption of Mount Dukono successful North Halmahera, Maluku Province, Indonesia, connected May 08, 2026. At slightest 3 Singaporeans person been killed, portion 17 others are inactive being searched for. (Photo by Basarnas/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Basarnas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Pasaribu said that constabulary volition question those who joined the hikers up the mountain. Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Indonesian National Police for further information.

According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, Mount Dukono has been continuously erupting since 1933.

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"Friday’s eruption was among the strongest during this period," said Lana Saria, who heads Indonesia’s Geology Agency astatine the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.