Old Mount Dukono Eruption Footage Falsely Shared as 2026 Deadly Incident
The Claim
Following the deadly eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono on May 8, 2026, social media users widely circulated a dramatic video claiming it showed hikers fleeing the volcano moments before the latest eruption.
The footage shows a massive ash cloud erupting from the volcano while climbers near the summit appear to run down the mountain in panic. Posts on Facebook,[1] TikTok,[2] Instagram,[3] and X[4] described the clip as real-time footage from the May 2026 disaster in North Halmahera, Indonesia.
The claims spread rapidly after authorities confirmed that three hikers including two Singaporean nationals died following the eruption, while 17 others were rescued.
What CyberPoe Verified
Verification shows the viral footage is not connected to the May 2026 eruption. The video is old and was originally recorded in August 2024.
Reverse image searches traced the footage to posts published by international media outlets nearly two years earlier. Australian broadcaster 9 News Adelaide shared the same clip on Facebook on August 24, 2024, identifying it as drone footage captured during an earlier Mount Dukono eruption.[1]
British newspaper The Telegraph also published the footage on YouTube in August 2024, while Indonesian outlet Tempo separately reported on the same volcanic event at the time.[2]
Original Source Identified
The footage was originally uploaded on Instagram by Indonesian drone videographer and tour guide Reza Selang under the account “anak esa” on August 18, 2024.
In the original caption, Selang stated the footage showed climbers nearly being struck by eruption material while summiting Mount Dukono on August 17, 2024.
Speaking to AFP, Selang confirmed he personally recorded the footage using a drone while positioned at the base of the volcano. He explained that he frequently films Mount Dukono eruptions and regularly guides tourists in the area.
Context Behind the 2026 Eruption
Mount Dukono, located on Indonesia’s Halmahera Island, is one of the country’s most active volcanoes and has remained under Level 2 alert since 2008.[1]
Authorities maintain a four-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater due to ongoing volcanic activity. According to Indonesian officials, the hikers caught in the May 2026 eruption had ignored warning signs restricting access to dangerous areas near the summit.
The eruption sent volcanic ash approximately 10 kilometers into the atmosphere. Rescue teams later recovered the bodies of the missing hikers after a three-day search operation.
Why the Old Footage Spread
Major disasters often trigger waves of recycled visuals online because dramatic footage attracts rapid engagement and emotional reactions.
In this case, authentic footage from the 2024 Mount Dukono eruption was falsely repackaged as evidence from the 2026 disaster, creating confusion about the scale and circumstances of the latest eruption.
CyberPoe Verdict ❌
False / Recycled Footage.
The viral video showing hikers fleeing Mount Dukono was not filmed during the May 2026 eruption. The footage was originally recorded by drone videographer Reza Selang during a separate eruption in August 2024.
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