Videos and photos tell of a major volcanic eruption in Indonesia.
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Saturday morning, the volcano Semeru had an eruption. Semeru is located east of the island of Java in Indonesia.
A large ash cloud and ash rain darkened the nearby areas, writes BBC. So far, no one has been reported dead, but people are being evacuated.
The news agency AP reports that several villages are covered in ash.
“Thick ash has turned several villages into darkness,” Thoriqul Haq told TV channel TVOne, according to AP.
According to Indonesian authorities the activity in the volcano picked up a little before 14.47 local time, 08.47 Norwegian time. About 20 minutes later you could see a larger ash cloud. Flowing lava has been observed down the volcano.
The AP reports that the eruption was followed by rain and thunderstorms. Lava and mud must have destroyed at least one bridge that connected the villages of Pronojiwo and Candipuro. It must also have made the rescue work more difficult.
The authorities are now mapping the material damage.
Air traffic has been warned that an ash cloud will extend 15,000 meters into the air, writes the BBC.
This is the second time the volcano has erupted this year. Semeru is 3676 meters high and one of 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.
The video below will show a bridge that was destroyed after the eruption.
Long history of outbreaks
The Semeru volcano has been active for many years. Indonesian authorities describes a volcano that has documented eruptions dating back to 1818.
In 1941–1942, a prolonged outbreak occurred. From 1945 to 1060, outbreaks occurred almost annually. Since then, outbreaks have occurred at irregular intervals.
There are restrictions on where people can stay around the volcano. Citizens are now encouraged to pay attention and listen to recommendations.
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