On May 8, Mount Dukono, an active volcano located on Halmahera island in Indonesia, erupted unexpectedly, leading to the tragic deaths of three hikers. The eruption sent a massive column of ash over six miles into the sky, creating a panic among the 20 hikers present, despite a climbing ban and warnings issued about the volcano's activity. Eyewitness videos captured the chaos as hikers fled the area, with one bystander expressing horror at the fatalities. North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu confirmed that the victims included one Indonesian citizen from Ternate and two tourists from Singapore. Rescue operations were complicated by ongoing eruptions and difficult terrain, but all surviving hikers were eventually located and treated. Officials are now investigating whether tourism operators violated safety regulations by allowing hikers into the restricted area. Mount Dukono has been highly active, with nearly 200 eruptions recorded since March 2025, and is currently classified at Level Two on Indonesia's four-tier volcanic alert system.