Indonesia’s Merapi volcano in new eruption

Indonesia’s Merapi volcano erupted Saturday, spewing avalanches of searing gas clouds and hot lava down its rivers, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on the slopes of the country’s most active volcano. The sudden eruption continued during the day and several villages were blanketed with falling ash, but no casualties have been reported.

Mount Merapi is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently. Its last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and caused the evacuation of 20,000 villagers. The residents living on Merapi’s slopes were advised to stay 7 kilometers away from the crater’s mouth and should be aware of the danger posed by lava.