Mount Dukono erupts in Indonesia, ash plume rises 900 metres

Mount Dukono in Indonesia’s North Maluku province has erupted again, sending a column of ash and smoke into the air, the country’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said on April 23.

The volcano, located on Halmahera Island, emitted ash rising approximately 900 meters above the crater, reaching an altitude of 1,987 meters above sea level. The ash plume, described as grey and white, drifted toward the northwest.

Authorities have imposed a safety restriction, prohibiting residents and tourists from approaching the crater within a 4-kilometre radius. People in the surrounding areas have also been advised to wear masks to protect against volcanic ash.

Mount Dukono lies at the boundary of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, an area known for heightened volcanic and seismic activity.

Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago with around 18,000 islands, is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Due to this, the country is highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It is home to more than 500 volcanoes, of which about 130 are active.

By Tamilla Hasanova