Mount Dukono in Indonesia Erupts Suddenly, 20 Hikers Trapped Awaiting Rescue

Central News Agency (CNA) -- (CNA, Jakarta, 8th, comprehensive foreign reports) Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island, Indonesia, suddenly erupted today, and Indonesian authorities are making every effort to rescue 20 trapped hikers, 9 of whom are Singaporean and the rest are Indonesian. According to comprehensive reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation stated that Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province, Indonesia, erupted at 7:41 AM local time, spewing volcanic ash up to 10 kilometers into the sky. Lana Saria, head of the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, stated in a press release that Mount Dukono remains at alert level 3. Iwan Ramdani, head of the local rescue agency, told Reuters that dozens of personnel, including police, have been dispatched to search for the 20 hikers trapped by the volcanic eruption, 9 of whom are Singaporean and the rest are Indonesian. Rescue officials stated: "Our team is rushing to the scene, and it has not yet been confirmed whether there are any casualties." Authorities warn that residents are strictly prohibited from engaging in any activities within a 4-kilometer radius of the crater; the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation also warns that rainfall could trigger volcanic mudslides. No reports of flight disruptions due to the volcanic eruption have been received so far. (Compiler: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150508