Deadly Volcano Eruption And Landslides Hit Indonesia

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Indonesia was dealing with the aftermath of several deadly natural disasters Saturday, with authorities saying at least three hikers were killed in a volcanic eruption and three others died after torrential rain triggered a landslide earlier this week.

The hikers, including two Singaporeans and an Indonesian national, died after Mount Dukono erupted on Indonesia’s Halmahera island, officials said.

Twenty hikers were reportedly on the volcano’s slopes when the eruption struck early Friday morning, according to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu.

“To date, 15 climbers have safely descended,” he told reporters at a volcano monitoring station in Mamuya village, adding that rescue teams were still searching for others.

Authorities said the area had been closed to visitors since April after scientists observed increased volcanic activity. Residents and tourists were warned to remain at least four kilometers (2.4 miles) from the crater.

VOLCANIC ASH WARNING

Officials warned that volcanic ash could affect nearby communities, while there were also fears of flying rocks and lava flows.

Mount Dukono is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has erupted nearly 200 times since March, authorities said.

Tour guide Alex Djangu, who was on the mountain during the eruption, said the volcano had appeared unusually quiet beforehand. “I told the guests that a major eruption was going to happen because the volcano was accumulating pressure,” he said.

Some hikers suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized, while police said the guide and a porter could face charges for allegedly leading tourists into a prohibited area.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters due to colliding tectonic plates.

LANDSLIDE DISASTER

Separately, three people were killed Tuesday afternoon after torrential rain triggered a landslide along the Trans-Sumatra Highway in North Sumatra province.

Authorities said a pickup truck carrying vegetables was swept into a river after part of the roadside embankment collapsed at about 4:30 p.m. local time during heavy rainfall.

Two passengers died after becoming trapped inside the wreckage, while a 14-year-old boy was killed when a second landslide struck as he attempted to rescue survivors.

Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said extreme weather has battered several regions in recent weeks, causing floods and landslides and forcing some residents into temporary shelters.

The country’s weather agency warned that although some regions are entering the dry season, localized downpours and severe weather could still occur in the coming days.

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