Ruptly
"At least two Singaporeans and a local hiker have reportedly died following the Mount Dukono volcano eruption on Halmahera Island in North Indonesia, as authorities continue the search and rescue mission, authorities confirmed on Friday. Footage shows hikers shouting and filming near the eruption site as thick plumes of smoke blanket the area. A group of rescue workers and locals are seen preparing to conduct operations to rescue the missing hikers. "We have been informed that there are 20 people being searched for, consisting of 9 foreign nationals from Singapore and 11 local residents of North Maluku Province," said the head of Ternate Search and Rescue Office. A coordinated rescue effort with stakeholders, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Mount Dukono Observation Post, is still ongoing. "The Joint SAR team departed from the Observation Post toward the LKK using a rescue vehicle, proceeding as far as the road was passable. As of now, information is still coming in, and we will provide further updates," he added. According to reports, twenty hikers, including nine Singaporean nationals, were on Mount Dukono when it erupted around 7.40 AM local time (11.40 PM GMT). Rescuers have since evacuated all 17 of the missing group, while search efforts continue to find the three victims who reportedly died near the summit. Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the two Singaporeans were men aged 27 and 30. Authorities said evacuation efforts were being hampered by difficult terrain, volcanic ash exposure, and the risk of further eruptions. Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting almost continuously for decades."
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