N. Halmahera, North Maluku. Two foreign climbers have been confirmed dead and around 20 others are believed to be stranded after Mount Dukono in North Maluku province erupted early Friday, sending a towering ash plume into the sky and triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

The head of the Ternate Search and Rescue Agency, Iwan Ramdani, said the stranded group includes nine Singaporean nationals and 11 Indonesian climbers, all caught near the summit when the eruption occurred.

“Based on initial information, there are 20 climbers still in search operations, consisting of nine Singaporean nationals and 11 local climbers,” Iwan said Friday.

Authorities confirmed that two of the Singaporean climbers, identified as Timo and Sahnas, were reported dead following the eruption, though formal identification and recovery operations are still ongoing.

Rescue teams have been deployed immediately to the remote volcanic site, with coordinated efforts involving the military, police, and volcanology officials.

“We have dispatched rescue teams to the location and are coordinating with the TNI, police, and the Dukono volcano monitoring post. At 10:00 a.m. local time, SAR teams departed for the site,” Iwan said.

Mount Dukono, located in Halmahera Utara district, erupted at 7:41 a.m. local time, producing an ash column estimated at 10,000 meters above the summit. The ash plume was observed drifting north across the island.

According to the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG), the eruption lasted nearly 16 minutes and was accompanied by seismic activity and rumbling sounds ranging from weak to strong intensity.

“The eruption occurred at 07:41 WIT with an ash column reaching around 10,000 meters above the crater. The material was carried northward by wind,” said Bambang Sugiono, head of the Dukono volcano monitoring post.

Authorities have maintained Mount Dukono at Alert Level 2, warning the public and visitors to stay at least four kilometers away from the Malupang Warirang crater due to ongoing activity. Dukono is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions recorded throughout the year.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams conducting sweeps across the volcanic terrain.

“Joint teams from BPBD and Basarnas continue evacuation and search efforts for climbers who were on the mountain during increased volcanic activity,” BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.

Authorities have established an emergency response post and are coordinating with multiple agencies, including volcanic monitoring stations, medical teams, and security forces.

The Indonesian government has also temporarily closed trekking access to Mount Dukono following the eruption, as part of safety measures for visitors.

Officials said the country’s geological agency had previously issued warnings about increasing volcanic activity at Dukono, which is closely monitored due to its persistent eruptive behavior.