RRI.CO.ID, North Halmahera - Rescue teams are continuing the search for two Singaporean nationals missing after the eruption of Mount Dukono on Friday, May 8, 2026. The disaster struck a group of 20 climbers who were near the crater when the volcano erupted.**

By midday, 14 survivors had been safely evacuated in North Halmahera, but two foreign nationals remain unaccounted for. Search operations are being carried out across multiple points in the affected area.

The missing climbers have been identified as HWQT (30) and SMBAH (27). To accelerate the rescue effort, personnel have been divided into two groups: one advancing toward the summit under the leadership of the local disaster management agency, using drones for aerial monitoring, and another combing river channels around the mountain to locate possible victims.

Evacuation efforts were briefly halted due to warnings of potential lava ejections from the crater.

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency's (BNPB) Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, urged residents and tourists to avoid climbing Mount Dukono and to follow official guidance from local authorities and the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG).

Rescue personnel took shelter at Post Five until conditions were deemed safe enough to resume operations. PVMBG confirmed that the eruption occurred on Friday morning. (Diffa Sephiawardhani/EY)