Rescue teams later managed to evacuate most of the hiking group safely from the mountain, with many being transported to hospital for treatment and observation. However, retrieving the bodies of the deceased quickly became extremely difficult due to the volcano’s ongoing activity.
Police chief Erlichson Pasaribu explained that repeated eruptions, thick ash clouds, unstable terrain, and powerful explosions from the crater forced rescuers to pause operations multiple times for their own safety.
As night fell on Friday evening, authorities announced that recovery efforts would continue the following day because conditions on the mountain had become too dangerous.
Two local porters reportedly stayed behind voluntarily to assist emergency teams searching for the victims.
Witnesses who survived the eruption described terrifying scenes.
One mountain guide told BBC Indonesian that he had sensed something unusual before the explosion happened. According to him, Mount Dukono had not erupted for several days, which he believed allowed dangerous pressure to build deep inside the volcano.
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