Indonesia's Dukono volcano erupts, 4km exclusion zone set

The Dukono volcano, located on Indonesia's Halmahera island, has erupted, sending a massive column of ash into the atmosphere. Authorities have established a four-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater to ensure the safety of residents and tourists following the increased volcanic activity.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation issued a statement regarding the event. According to official data, ash rose approximately 3,400 meters from the crater, reaching a total altitude of 4,487 meters above sea level. The plume of white and gray ash is currently drifting in a northwestern direction. Volcanologists have urged the local population and visitors to remain outside the designated danger radius and to utilize protective masks to mitigate respiratory risks from volcanic dust.

Indonesia is situated on the "Ring of Fire," a high-seismic activity zone where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates meet. This geographical position makes the archipelago one of the most volcanically active regions in the world, home to over 500 volcanoes, approximately 130 of which remain active. The current activity follows a tragic incident on May 8, when an eruption at the same site resulted in at least two fatalities and left one person missing, underscoring the persistent threat posed by the region's geological instability.