Three hikers who ignored volcano warnings have been killed by an eruption on an Indonesian island.
The eruption of Mount Dukono on the island of Halmahera, eastern Indonesia, sent a plume of ash more than six miles (10km) into the sky.
Twenty hikers were on the slopes of the volcano when it erupted, according to Erlichson Pasaribu, a local police commander.
Nine of them were from Singapore and the rest from Indonesia. Two of the dead are reported to be Singaporean and the third Indonesian.
The hikers were reportedly exploring an area that was meant to be a no-go zone, with local authorities issuing strict instructions that it should not be entered because of the risk of volcanic activity.
Officials said tourists often ignored the warning, with some wanting to take photos for social media.
Speaking several hours after the eruption, Mr Pasaribu said 15 climbers had safely descended.
He did not elaborate on the status of the remaining two hikers, but another official told Reuters that all 17 survivors had been rescued.
However, the bodies of the dead hikers have not yet been recovered because the situation remains highly dangerous, he said.
“Due to ongoing eruptions, the situation is still considered unsafe for evacuation. So, the joint team is still waiting for the right time to begin the search,” Mr Pasaribu said.
Some of the walkers who survived the eruption suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
The group’s guide and a porter were taken to a local police station and could face criminal charges for allegedly taking the hikers into a prohibited area.
Since December, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has warned tourists and climbers not to come within 2.5 miles (4km) of the volcano’s Malupang Warirang Crater after scientists saw an increase in seismic activity.
Mr Pasaribu said the hikers had ignored warning signs put up at the entrance of the trail to stay away.
“Local residents understand and don’t want to climb. Many [hikers] are foreign tourists who wish to create [social media] content. After this incident, we will be strictly monitoring posts that hikers can pass,” he said.
The eruption so far poses no danger to towns or villages. There are no settlements within a radius of about 9km (5.6 miles) of the volcano.
Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes.
The country experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity because of its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.
