The Ternate SAR Office in North Maluku has officially concluded its extensive search and rescue operation for 20 climbers caught in the devastating eruption of Mount Dukono on the morning of Friday, May 8, 2026. The challenging evacuation effort came to an end on Sunday afternoon, May 10, 2026, following the successful recovery and retrieval of the bodies of two Singaporean climbers.
“The search operation has now been officially halted after all deceased victims were successfully evacuated. All evacuation teams have descended from the incident site,” stated Iwan Ramdani, Head of the Ternate City SAR, who was met at the Mamuya Village Evacuation Post in Galela, North Halmahera. His remarks underscored the completion of a perilous mission.
According to Ramdani, the initial evacuation efforts commenced promptly on Friday. The Ternate SAR Office had received an urgent SOS signal from the coordinates 1°42’13.7″N/127°52’50.2″E, pinpointing an area near Mount Dukono’s summit. Early reports indicated that climbers were trapped following the volcanic eruption. It was later confirmed that a total of 20 climbers were involved: 11 tourists and 9 local guides from Ternate and surrounding villages, all of whom had embarked on the challenging ascent.
The SAR team swiftly mobilized, managing to evacuate 17 individuals initially, among whom seven were Singaporean nationals. The body of one deceased victim, an Indonesian tourist, was recovered on Saturday. This was followed by the retrieval of the two remaining Singaporean victims on Sunday, marking the final stage of the recovery. Ramdani further elaborated on the operational hurdles: “Previously, the evacuation of the climbers faced significant delays due to extremely adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall. Furthermore, Mount Dukono continued its intermittent eruptions, forcing several temporary halts to the evacuation operations.”
Ajun Komisaris Besar Erlichson Pasaribu, the Chief of Police for North Halmahera, confirmed that the 20 climbers affected by the Mount Dukono eruption had utilized the Mamuya Village route in Galela District. Critically, this particular route had been officially closed to all climbing activities since April 17, 2026. “The surviving climbers have now safely returned home. We have also issued a strong appeal to the community to refrain from climbing again until the closure status is officially lifted,” Pasaribu emphasized, highlighting the importance of adhering to safety regulations.
Piet Hein Babua, the Regent of North Halmahera, extended his profound appreciation and gratitude to all agencies and individuals who played a crucial role in the successful evacuation of the climbers. He also urged the public to maintain heightened vigilance, avoid any activities near the volcano’s crater, and consistently follow directives from officials, along with official information issued by relevant authorities. Speaking to Tempo, Piet expressed a somber hope, stating, “We sincerely hope this incident will be the last of its kind.”
Summary
The Ternate SAR Office has officially concluded the search and rescue operation for 20 climbers caught in a volcanic eruption at Mount Dukono on May 8, 2026. After a challenging mission hampered by adverse weather and ongoing volcanic activity, teams successfully evacuated 17 survivors and recovered the bodies of three victims, including two Singaporean nationals. The operation officially ended on Sunday, May 10, following the final recovery efforts.
Authorities confirmed that the climbers had accessed the mountain via the Mamuya Village route, which had been officially closed since mid-April due to safety concerns. Local police and government officials have strongly urged the public to strictly adhere to climbing prohibitions and follow official directives to prevent future tragedies. All surviving climbers have safely returned home, and efforts are now focused on maintaining public safety in the region.