• Search efforts for three missing hikers resume after Mount Dukono's eruption.
• Continuing volcanic activity hampers rescue operations amidst bad weather.
• Authorities investigate local guides for negligence related to safety violations.

Indonesian authorities have resumed search efforts for three hikers, including two Singaporeans, missing after the eruption of Mount Dukono on Halmahera island. As part of the operation, at least 150 personnel, including military, police, and rescue teams, have been deployed. The search is mainly focused within a distance of 100 to 150 meters from the crater rim, as the volcano continues to erupt, creating hazardous conditions for rescuers, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

The ongoing volcanic activity not only hinders rescue operations but also raises concerns for the safety of the rescuers. Heavy rain in the area further complicates the situation, making it challenging for the teams to operate effectively. Local police chief Erlichson Pasaribu indicated that survivors had reported the likely deaths of the missing hikers due to the eruption, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Authorities confirmed another fatality among the hikers, identifying the deceased as an Indonesian national. Concurrently, an investigation was launched into the local guides responsible for leading the hikers near the volcano crater, as the area was marked for restricted activities. These guides may face legal action for alleged negligence under Indonesia's Disaster Management Law, as noted by the police chief and reported by Channel News Asia and Channel News Asia.

As the search continues, the volcanology agency has maintained the third-highest alert level for Mount Dukono, advising a no-go zone within a four-kilometer radius from the crater. Rescuers have reported finding personal items, including backpacks believed to belong to the missing hikers, reaffirming fears for their survival, according to South China Morning Post and Reuters.