In a breathtaking display of nature’s fury, a group of climbers found themselves face-to-face with death as they narrowly escaped an erupting volcano. The thrill-seekers were scaling the rim of Dukono, an active volcano on Halmahera island in Indonesia, when the unthinkable happened.
As they ascended towards the summit, the ground beneath them began to tremble, and a colossal ash cloud erupted from the crater. This immense plume shot 8,000 feet into the sky, signaling that the volcano had sprung to life with alarming intensity. The climbers, realizing the gravity of the situation, scrambled down the mountain in a desperate bid to outrun the impending disaster.
Despite the terrifying ordeal, the climbers miraculously made it down the mountain without any injuries or fatalities. The entire harrowing event was captured on jaw-dropping drone footage recorded on August 17 by Anak Esa. The video shows the sheer power of Dukono, a volcano that has been in a state of continuous eruption since 1993.
Anak Esa, who was responsible for capturing the footage, expressed his shock at the volcano’s heightened activity. “To my horror, Dukono’s activity was so high that the volcano material was thrown out of the crater,” he remarked. His words serve as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and often dangerous nature of such volcanic expeditions. Esa also shared some critical advice for future climbers: “Before climbing the summit, let’s observe first the wind direction, how strong the eruption is, and other considerations. Don’t force yourself to summit when the situation doesn’t allow it. The top is a bonus. Getting home safely is the real goal of climbing.”
However, the climbers’ decision to tackle such a hazardous ascent has sparked outrage among the public. Many questioned the wisdom of climbing an active volcano, especially one with such a volatile history. Al Goodman voiced his bewilderment: “Why are we on volcanoes? Why do humans do this? It’s like chasing tornadoes, I’ll never understand this need.” Others echoed his sentiment, wondering whether any warnings had been issued before the climbers embarked on their perilous journey.
I’ve just had this confirmed. I thought it was too insane to be true, but it is. This is a video of some climbers on Mt Dukono on Saturday who suddenly realised how bloody stupid their decision to climb was 😬😱
Via: @MurtadhaOne pic.twitter.com/ueKk3j3Jlk
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 19, 2024
