Indonesia's Mount Dukono eruption kills three hikers and leaves others missing
Mount Dukono in North Halmahera, Indonesia, has erupted, killing at least three hikers and prompting a search for people still missing.
Authorities said 20 hikers were reported to have been on the volcano when it erupted on Friday, despite safety restrictions.
Fifteen were able to descend safely, while three were confirmed dead.
The latest figures add to the scale of the emergency response in the area around the mountain.
Officials are still searching for those unaccounted for after the eruption.
The incident matters because the volcano remains a destination for hikers even though access is restricted because of volcanic activity.
The presence of so many people on the mountain at the time of the eruption has raised immediate safety concerns.
The eruption took place on Halmahera island, where Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia's active volcanoes.
The mountain is subject to official warnings aimed at keeping people away from the crater area.
