I led hikers up an Indonesian volcano – and then it erupted

BBC:

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.

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

“There are no words. Until now I still feel torn apart, I still can’t believe it… right now I am deeply devastated,” he told the BBC over the phone on Monday.

Indonesian authorities have said two Singaporeans and one Indonesian were killed in the eruption, while the other hikers were safely evacuated from the mountain located on Halmahera island in North Maluku.

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. 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 they had earlier posted warnings on social media and banners at trail entrances.

Reza, however, said he was unaware of all this when he embarked on the trip.

Local villagers whom he regularly employs to assist him in escorting groups up Dukono also did not tell him anything about the prohibition, he added.