Police name content creator Anak Esa as a suspect in Mount Dukono incident

Halmahera Utara Police Resort (Polres Halmahera Utara) has formally named content creator AE, who goes by Anak Esa, as a suspect in the fatal incident on Mount Dukono. The tragedy claimed the lives of three climbers who were part of a group assembled to produce social media content.

The suspect was named after police conducted a series of witness interviews and crime-scene investigations. The Halmahera Utara Police Chief explained that the suspect is believed to have initiated the ascent into the restricted radius established by the Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG). The Chief said that the suspect ignored prohibition signs and warnings at the ascent post. “The motive was to obtain exclusive footage for content. The suspect led the group into the red zone while volcanic activity at Mount Dukono was increasing,” he said at a press conference on Thursday (21 May 2026).

For the offence, Anak Esa is charged under Article 359 of the Indonesian Penal Code (negligence resulting in the death of another person). In addition, investigators are considering applying provisions under the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (ITE) relating to content that endangers lives.

The incident began when a seven-person group led by AE carried out an illegal ascent in the early hours. Upon reaching an area near the crater, Mount Dukono erupted phreatically, ejecting rocks and hot ash. Three climbers were trapped and later found dead by a joint search-and-rescue team several hours after the incident.

The suspect is currently detained at Mapolres Halmahera Utara for further legal proceedings. The families of the victims are seeking justice and have called on social media platforms to tighten screening of extreme climbing content that breaches safety rules.

Mount Dukono’s eruption generated an ash column of 3,500 metres. The Geology Agency advised residents to stay at least 4 km away from the Malupang Warirang crater.

Dukono’s activity again drew attention after the fatal ascent.

All victims reported missing after the eruption on Mount Dukono in Halmahera Utara, North Maluku, have been located and evacuated.

The joint SAR team found the last two missing climbers in a deceased condition. The search operation for 18 people was officially closed by BNPB.

The joint SAR team also located two Singaporean climbers who had been missing after the eruption; the SAR operation was officially closed.