matapubliknews.com - For Alex Djangu, a volcano isn't just a beautiful photo background, but a giant organism which has sign and sound must be "listened" to. As a tour guide certified by the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP), he understands that safety is not determined by luck, but by digital and visual observation and adherence to volcanology recommendations.
Alex's journey began with heightened vigilance. Several days before climbing Mount Dukono in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, on Friday (May 8, 2026), Alex visited the local volcanology office to monitor seismograph activity.
The data indicated the crater opening was facing north (the Mamuya route). However, unpredictable weather conditions—with wind directions changing between south, east, and north within hours—led him to cancel his climbing plans.
It wasn't until May 7, 2026, when Mount Dukono appeared "clear" without any smoke, that Alex decided to move from Ruko village to the east side of the crater. He guided a couple of German guest with him, camping in the 4-kilometer safety zone recommended by authorities. However, to his professional eye, the disappearance of the smoke at Dukono's summit was not a good sign.
"This is strange. Dukono isn't like this. This is dangerous because it seems there's a blockage at the bottom of the crater and enormous pressure is building, the seismograph recorded some deep eruptions and the tremor keep going on the monitor, big eruption is going to happen," Alex told his guests at the time.
Alex's suspicions grew stronger at 3:00 PM WIT. A rumbling sound like a flash flood was heard, but it wasn't coming from the river, but from the bowels of the earth. He suspected it was magma rising to the surface.
On Friday, May 8, 2026, at 4:00 AM, the team approached to within 2 km to catch the sunrise. Beyond the beautiful sunrise he had captured, a reconnaissance mission was launched. Alex flew a drone to assess the current condition of the previously unreachable crater.
The results were astonishing: the Dukono crater had become shallow. Piles of material covered the floor—presumably caused by a landslide on the crater wall or the pressure of magma getting closer to the crater rim.
Moments of Eruption and Supersonic Waves
While conducting aerial surveillance, Alex witnessed a terrifying contrast. On the Mamuya (North) trail, crowds of tourists could be heard. The drone's display showed several climbers already very close to the crater rim.
He even captured a glimpse of a woman in a long-sleeved white shirt running under the control of a drone belonging to a group of men suspected of being content creators. Unaware of the danger lurking, they were right at ground zero.
Aware of the risk of the crater's "blockage," which could rupture at any moment, Alex decided to immediately descend and move to a safer zone. It was the right decision.
At precisely 7:42 a.m. WIT, a loud bang shattered the silence. Mount Dukono spewed thick black smoke, splashes of molten lava, and rock debris, accompanied by the shock of supersonic waves.
"I thought, those who had just arrived at the crater rim might not have survived," Alex thought.
However, a miracle occurred. He later received news that many climbers had survived, including four climbers from Gorua, who were not far from Alex's team.
After confirming the current situation and reporting his observations to colleagues and relevant authorities, Alex and his guests descended safely.
This story serves as a stark reminder for nature lovers and content creators. Volcanoes are dynamic zones that cannot be predicted with the naked eye alone.
"Don't make any decisions without careful observation. Volcanoes are dangerous; stay alert," Alex advised anyone planning to challenge the Dukono Volcano.
The May 8th eruption left deep sorrow for Indonesian tourism. An Indonesian climber named Angel KP was confirmed dead. Two other climbers from Singapore, Heng Wen Qiang Timothy and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid were found dead too, only bones left after got burned by hot lava rock.
Tim Red
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