Multiple hikers killed, others rescued after volcano erupts in Indonesia | CNN

A volcanic eruption killed three people and triggered a rescue operation to get more than a dozen hikers stranded near the crater of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono to safety on Friday, officials said. Singapore nationals and an Indonesian citizen were among those killed when the volcano, on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted, according to the island’s police chief and search and rescue officials. Nine foreigners and 11 local hikers were climbing Mount Dukono at the time of the eruption, North Halmahera Police Chief Erlichson Pasaribu told Indonesia’s Kompas TV. Seventeen of the 20 climbers were safely evacuated by Friday evening, search and rescue officials said. Survivors told police three people had died in the eruption, according to Pasaribu. Indonesia’s rescue agency had not confirmed their deaths but reported three people missing on Friday. On Saturday, authorities said two missing Singapore nationals had been found near the crater rim, though it was unclear if they were alive, Reuters news agency reported. A search operation, suspended overnight, had resumed Saturday morning, involving 100 rescuers, military and police personnel as well as two thermal