I led hikers up an Indonesian volcano - and then it erupted

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. I led hikers up an Indonesian volcano - and then it erupted20 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleAstudestra Ajengrastri ,JakartaandTessa Wong ,Singapore Watch: Mount Dukono volcano erupts in IndonesiaAn Indonesian guide who led a group of hikers up Mount Dukono has described the harrowing moment they were caught up in Friday's eruption, which killed three people in his group. Reza Selang narrowly escaped from being crushed by a large rock ejected from the crater, which landed on two other hikers right beside him. Until now I still feel torn apart, I still can't believe it...

right now I am deeply devastated," he told the over the phone on Monday. Indonesian authorities have said two Singaporeans and one Indonesian were killed in the eruption, while the other hikers were safely evacuated from the mountain located on Halmahera island in North Maluku. The group of 20 hikers, a mix of Singaporeans and Indonesians, had climbed to the summit despite previous warnings against such activity.

The Details

The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since late March. Authorities said that since 17 April they had prohibited the granting of climbing permits for Mount Dukono, and that the public was banned from an area 4km (2. 5 mi) from the crater.

They also said they had earlier posted warnings on social media and banners at trail entrances. Reza, however, said he was unaware of all this when he embarked on the trip. Local villagers whom he regularly employs to assist him in escorting groups up Dukono also did not tell him anything about the prohibition, he added.

'Rocks falling to our left and right'Reza runs a tour company in North Maluku. He said he was contacted last year by Timothy Heng, a Singaporean who organised adventure expeditions, to guide a group of hikers up Dukono and other mountains in the region. When the group began hiking up Dukono last Thursday afternoon, "there were no signs of volcanic activity.

What Experts Say

There was no eruption or anything. "It was also calm the next morning as they summited the mountain, Reza recalled. When he sent up a drone camera to check the crater, "there was no visible activity, there was no smoke either".

He told the group they could go up to the crater as long as they made sure to descend shortly afterwards. A total of 14 hikers including Heng went up, while Reza and the rest stayed below. At 07:40 local time, Reza said, he flew his drone up to monitor the group.

One minute later, the mountain erupted. "Within one minute there were two eruptions. The first eruption only released smoke.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.