20 Climbers Missing After Mount Dukono Eruption in Indonesia

Twenty climbers have gone missing on Indonesia's eastern Halmahera Island after Mount Dukono erupted Friday morning, spewing a column of ash and smoke up to 10 kilometers into the sky. Search and rescue teams have been dispatched to locate the group, according to local officials.

"Our team is on its way. It has not yet been confirmed whether there are any injured. Based on reports, around 20 people are being searched for," said Iwan Ramdani, an official with the local search and rescue agency.

Lana Saria, head of Indonesia's Volcanology Agency, stated in a release that the volcano's alert status remains at its third-highest level. The agency also warned residents to avoid any activities within a 4-kilometer radius of the crater.

Iwan Ramdani, who heads the local rescue agency, told Reuters that dozens of personnel, including police, have been deployed to search for the 20 climbers trapped by the eruption. He added that "nine of the climbers are Singaporean and the rest are Indonesian."

Authorities have further cautioned about the risk of volcanic mudflows, or lahars, should rainfall occur. As of the latest reports, no flight disruptions have been recorded as a result of the eruption.