The Price of a Spectacular Shot: The Dukono Volcano Eruption Claims the Lives of Tourists (1 photo + 3 videos)
A real drama has unfolded in eastern Indonesia. 
The eruption of Dukono Volcano on Halmahera Island, which began on the morning of May 8, proved fatal for a group of people who decided to ignore restrictions to take spectacular photos at the very edge of the crater. Nature has once again proven that it does not forgive carelessness, especially when the thirst for content outweighs the instinct for self-preservation.
The eruption began suddenly at 7:41 AM local time, when Dukono ejected a gigantic column of ash to a height of more than 10 kilometers. At that moment, there were numerous people in the so-called "red zone," a radius of less than 4 kilometers from the crater. Despite the fact that visiting this area has been officially prohibited due to the volcano's high activity since 2024, tourists continued to climb to the crater's crater to capture unique videos.
Authorities have officially confirmed three deaths: two Singaporean citizens, aged 27 and 30, and one local resident from the city of Ternate. The search and rescue operation, involving dozens of emergency services, is extremely hampered by ongoing ash plumes, rockfall, and the high risk of further explosions. By the morning of May 9, rescuers had managed to evacuate 17 people, some of whom were seriously injured.
Now, local guides and organizers of this deadly climb could face criminal charges for leading people into a restricted area.
Indonesian authorities have already imposed a strict ban on approaching Dukono and strongly recommend that all residents of the region wear masks to protect their respiratory system.
No amount of likes on social media is worth being buried under a layer of ash on the edge of an active volcano.
