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

BBC News · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · May 11, 2026 · 1112 words · By Astudestra Ajengrastri

Volcanic Risk Management Legal Negligence Human Tragedy

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

Claims checked 17

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left17%

Center66%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Reza Selang narrowly escaped from being crushed by a large rock ejected from the crater, which landed on two other hikers right beside him.

Common ground

Until now I still feel torn apart, I still can't believe it...

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Volcanic Risk Management story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since late March?
How does this story connect Volcanic Risk Management with Legal Negligence over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz623qjqjd6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 17 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

schedule Pending 7

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since late March.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results, including one citing the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia, state the volcano erupted nearly or more than 200 times since late March.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 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…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz623qjqjd6o

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mount Dukono has erupted nearly 200 times since late March, according to the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia. The location is currently designated as Level Two on the agency's three-tier volcano al…
https://www.aol.com/articles/mount-dukono-volcano-eruption-k…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since late March.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…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz623qjqjd6o

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Claim 2: “authorities have permanently closed all entrances to Mount Dukono”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 3: “Mount Rinjani... has a level two status and a prohibition against activities conducted near its crater.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 4: “the other hikers were safely evacuated from the mountain located on Halmahera island in North Maluku.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple other sources confirm that Mount Dukono is located on Halmahera island in North Maluku.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 8 May 2026, the Dukono volcano on the island of Halmahera erupted, killing three people and injuring five others. The ongoing rumbling from the mountain had slowed down search-and-rescue operations…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_2026_eruption_of_Dukono

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dukono is an active volcano located in the northern part of Halmahera island, the largest of the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. It has a broad profile and is capped by compound craters. During the major…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukono

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Halmahera, formerly known as Jilolo, Gilolo, or Jailolo, is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia, and Sofifi, the capital of the province, is …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halmahera

+ 4 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 5: “A level two volcano is one where there is clearly observable increased volcanic activity and there is the threat of an eruption, and the public is prohibited from certain areas.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 6: “Singaporean hiker Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the identity or status of Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid.

schedule

Claim 7: “Dukono had been categorised as level two in Indonesia's four-tier volcano alert system.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “the public was banned from an area 4km (2.5 mi) from the crater.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm the public was banned from an area 4km from the crater.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In public relations and communication theory, a public is distinct from a stakeholder or a market. A public is a subset of the set of stakeholders for an organization, that comprises those people conc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Public Advisors and Public Investing are affiliates, and both charge fees for their respective services. Before investing, consider your investment objectives, all fees and expenses, and any potential…
https://public.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of PUBLIC is exposed to general view : open. How to use public in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public

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Claim 9: “Timothy Heng, a Singaporean who organised adventure expeditions”

CORROBORATED

Web search results and LinkedIn confirm Timothy Heng is a Singaporean expedition leader/organizer.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Eventbrite - RGS-Singapore presents Timothy Heng - On the Frontline - Thursday, 26 March 2026 at Hollandse Club. Find event and ticket information.Singaporean anti-poaching ranger Timothy Heng shares …
https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/timothy-heng-on-the-frontline-ti…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mr Timothy Heng Wen Qiang, 29, was one of the two Singaporean hikers found dead on Sunday, following the eruption of Mount Dukono, a volcano on the island of Halmahera, Indonesia.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/hiker-died-mount-d…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Timothy Heng. Singapore, Singapore. 600 followers 500+ connections.I’m an expedition leader and content marketer, passionate about capturing moments and…
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/timothyhengwq

schedule

Claim 10: “last June a Brazilian woman died after falling into its crater.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “Indonesian hiker Angel Krishela Pradita.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the identity or status of Angel Krishela Pradita.

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Claim 12: “Indonesian authorities have said two Singaporeans and one Indonesian were killed in the eruption”

CORROBORATED

The Guardian and other web search results explicitly state that two Singaporeans and one Indonesian were killed in the eruption.

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travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Two Singaporeans are reportedly dead after Mount Dukono volcano eruption in eastern Indonesia. 18 hours ago.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Indonesian authorities are racing to locate and rescue hikers after the Mount Dukono volcano erupted Friday (May 8) morning, sending a towering ash plume abo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KWu-VIXCOU

+ 2 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “since 17 April they had prohibited the granting of climbing permits for Mount Dukono”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that authorities prohibited climbing permits starting April 17.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 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 the…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz623qjqjd6o

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The volcanology agency is maintaining the third-highest alert level for Mount Dukono and bans any activities within 4km of the crater. There were no reports of flight disruptions caused by the eruptio…
https://www.huntervalleynews.net.au/story/9242888/body-found…

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Claim 14: “The group of 20 hikers, a mix of Singaporeans and Indonesians, had climbed to the summit”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report a group of 20 hikers, consisting of Singaporeans and Indonesians, who climbed to the summit.

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travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The group of 20 hikers, a mix of Singaporeans and Indonesians, had climbed to the summit despite previous warnings against such activity. The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since late March.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz623qjqjd6o

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A group of 20 climbers attempted to hike the nearly 4,450-foot volcano despite official safety warnings and a climbing ban.An eruption of Mount Dukono on Halmahera island, Indonesia, killed three hike…
https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2026-05-08-multiple-hike…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 15: “Friday's eruption, which killed three people in his group.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (AOL, Wikipedia, and other web search results) confirm that an eruption on Friday killed three hikers.

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travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — An explosive eruption of Mount Dukono on a remote Indonesian island killed three hikers, authorities said Friday.
https://www.aol.com/articles/least-3-hikers-killed-volcano-0…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mount Dukono on third-highest alert. Government geology agency head Lana Saria said in a statement that Friday's eruption was accompanied by a "booming sound."
https://www.dw.com/en/indonesia-volcano-eruption-kills-3-hik…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 16: “Angel's body was eventually found near the summit on Saturday, while the remains of Heng and Shahin Muhrez were retrieved on Sunday.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 17: “Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plades collide.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.