At least 14 people died and dozens were injured after a sudden volcanic eruption on Indonesia’s Java island.
Some injuries were severe burn cases.
A huge ash cloud from Mount Semeru left at least 11 villages caked in ash with homes virtually submerged.
The ash cloud reached a height of about 40,000 feet.
It led to an aviation advisory from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center for flights to avoid the area.
About 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
Mt Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia and one of the highest.
It is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, one of Java’s top natural attractions.
It received about half a million visitors yearly before Covid, mostly to trek up the smaller active volcano Mount Bromo.
Bromo is famed for its unique lunar landscape, and remains open to limited visitors although one of four access roads to the national park is closed because of the eruption
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park only just re-opened to tourists a week ago.
