The volcano in North Maluku province erupted on Friday morning, spewing volcanic ash as high as 10km ⁠into the sky

Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province, erupted on Friday at 7.41am, spewing volcanic ash as high as 10km (six miles) ⁠into the sky, the country’s volcanology agency said.

The agency ‌maintained the alert status at the mountain at its third highest level, ‌agency head Lana Saria said in a statement.

Iwan ⁠Ramdani, ⁠the head of the local rescue agency, said that ‌they have deployed dozens of personnel, including police, to search ‌for the ‌20 hikers trapped by the eruption. “Our team is on its way. It is not yet confirmed if there are injured people.”

Nine the hikers are Singaporean and the ⁠rest are Indonesians, Iwan said.

Source: News - South China Morning Post