The Mount Agung volcano, in Indonesian tourist island of the Bali, erupted on Monday evening with a 2000 meter high flare.
The volcano was active last in 1963, when more than 1,000 people died and several villages on its slopes were razed to the ground.
On Monday around 700 people fled to nearby evacuation center, 6 km away from the crater. Exclusion zone is a 4 km radius around the crater. The Monday night explosions were described as “thunderous” and hurled white hot rocks from the crater, according to National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
Residents saw flaming volcanic rocks thrown at least 1.2 miles out of the crater, reported the the Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency.
Bali’s international airport was shut down for half a day due to volcanic ash from Agung, disrupting travel for tens of thousands. Bali sits on the pacific ring of fire, a chain of 450 volcanoes with frequent earthquakes on the pacific rim.
Bali is in the westernmost parts of the Lesser Sundar Islands in between Java and Lombok. It is famous for its lush landscapes, wildlife and pearly white beaches.