Mount Semeru in eastern Java erupted on Wednesday afternoon, forcing hundreds of Indonesians to evacuate as ash and gas shot more than 13 kilometres into the sky.
Authorities raised the alert status to the highest level, while nearly 900 people stayed in temporary shelters set up in schools, mosques, and village halls to avoid immediate danger.
Some houses near the volcano were partially buried under volcanic ash and rock fragments, and at least one elementary school was completely flattened, prompting ongoing assessments of infrastructure damage.
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Resident Nurul Yakin Pribadi said a metre-high layer of volcanic material had covered his home, while others reported similar destruction, leaving families traumatised and displaced from their communities.
Authorities evacuated around 190 people from the volcano’s slopes, most of them hikers stranded at a campsite, and three individuals suffered burn injuries during the eruption, officials confirmed.
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Mount Semeru’s eruption is a reminder of Indonesia’s location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where tectonic activity fuels nearly 130 active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes, posing constant risks to local populations.