Indonesia warns tourists to stay away from active Mount Dukono volcano

Authorities in Indonesia have renewed warnings for tourists to stay away from one of the country’s active volcanoes after officials said several hikers ignored safety advisories and restricted zones in pursuit of social media content.

The warning concerns Mount Dukono, one of nearly 130 active volcanoes spread across the Southeast Asian archipelago. The volcano is currently placed at level two on Indonesia’s four-stage alert system.

Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has, since December, advised tourists and climbers not to enter within a four-kilometre radius of the Malupang Warirang crater due to ongoing volcanic activity.

An official identified as Erlichson said many visitors had disregarded warning signs installed at the trail entrance as well as repeated appeals circulated on social media urging people to avoid the area.

According to the official, local residents have generally complied with the restrictions and avoid climbing the volcano. However, a large number of visitors attempting the trek are foreign tourists seeking dramatic footage and online content.

Indonesia lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a region known for intense seismic and volcanic activity, making volcanic eruptions and related hazards relatively common across the country.