Indonesia’s Dukono volcano erupts, spewing ash 2.4 km above sea level

An eruption of Mount Dukono has been recorded on Halmahera Island in Indonesia’s North Maluku Province.

According to Russia’s TASS news agency, the volcanic ash plume rose approximately 1.3 kilometres above the crater, reaching an altitude of 2,387 metres above sea level.

White and grey ash clouds drifted northwest from the volcano. Authorities urged residents of nearby communities and tourists to remain at least four kilometres away from the crater and to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash.

On May 8, an eruption of Mount Dukono reportedly left at least two people dead, while another person was reported missing.

The volcano is located in a region where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates meet.

Indonesia’s archipelago consists of more than 18,000 islands and lies along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the world’s most seismically active regions. The country has more than 500 volcanoes, around 130 of which are active.