Iwan Ramdani, head of the Ternate Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, stated that the bodies of the three victims remain on the mountain. Search operations were suspended Friday evening and are scheduled to resume at daybreak on Saturday.
Witness accounts describe a terrifying scene at the summit. Alex Djangu, a local guide who was leading two German tourists, recalled feeling deep tremors before rocks and gravel began sliding down the slopes.
“I saw the small rocks and gravel sliding down because of the tremors, then I told my clients we have to run down,” Djangu said. He noted that while his group escaped, others were standing near the crater rim or recording content when the mountain exploded.
Authorities had already flagged Mount Dukono for increased activity. Since December 2024, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) had advised against all activity within a 4-kilometer radius of the crater.
Despite these warnings, the volcano’s relative quiet in the days leading up to the disaster may have lured hikers into a false sense of security. Djangu warned that such lulls often indicate a dangerous buildup of internal pressure.
Indonesia, which sits on the seismically volatile “Ring of Fire,” continues to deal with the aftermath as BASARNAS teams navigate thick forest and ash-covered terrain to complete the recovery.
