Troublesome Tourists Climbing Active Volcanoes to Watch Eruptions... Indonesian Government Pleads "Please Stop"

Rushing Down the Mountain as Gas and Smoke Move Toward Them
Government Drone Captures the Scene

Hikers who climbed a mountain in Indonesia to watch a volcanic eruption are facing public backlash. On the 21st (local time), the British media outlet Daily Telegraph reported that on the 17th, hikers climbing Mount Dukono on Halmahera Island, Indonesia, were captured by government drones. According to the footage released by the Indonesian government, about 12 hikers reached a cliff next to the crater of Mount Dukono.

[Photo by Online Community]

However, at the moment they arrived at the crater, smoke mixed with volcanic ash and rocks soared high into the sky. The hikers, watching this, were startled as the gas and smoke headed toward them and hurriedly descended the steep slope. The footage was taken by an Indonesian government drone, and it was reported that all the hikers evacuated safely.

Recently, Indonesian authorities issued a Level 2 alert for this volcano. An official from the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency told local media, "(Level 2 alert) means that authorities have prohibited entry within a 3 km radius of the crater." However, the hikers ignored the warnings and secretly climbed the mountain without permission.

The moment they arrived at the crater, smoke mixed with volcanic ash and rocks soared high into the sky. Hikers watching this scene were startled when the gas and smoke headed toward them, and they hurriedly descended the steep slope.
[Photo by Online Community]

A government official who released the footage said, "The true purpose of hiking is to return safely," and added, "Do not push yourself to reach the summit when conditions do not permit." Netizens who saw this responded with comments such as, "They must have known it was an active volcano, so why climb it?", "People these days really have a safety insensitivity," and "Please stop doing things you are told not to do."

Meanwhile, Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has about 120 active volcanoes. In April, a volcano on Ruang Island in Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, emitted lava and smoke, causing hundreds to evacuate. In December last year, the eruption of Mount Marapi on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, resulted in 23 deaths.