“When Dukono becomes quiet for too long, you must be very careful,” he warned.
As he climbed with two tourists, he reportedly saw multiple groups of hikers dangerously close to the crater edge. Some were even filming drone videos near the summit moments before disaster struck.
Then suddenly, he heard deep rumbling tremors coming from beneath the mountain.
“I immediately told my guests we had to descend,” he explained. “That decision saved our lives.”
As they rushed down the mountain, many other hikers were still near the summit, unaware of the danger approaching.
Officials later confirmed that warnings against climbing Mount Dukono had already been widely shared through social media, local notices, and warning banners placed near hiking trails. Authorities said tourists had been strongly advised to avoid entering a restricted zone within four kilometers of the crater because of the constant risk of explosions, ashfall, volcanic rocks, and toxic gas.
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