Blitar: A volcanic eruption in the Indonesian island of Java has killed two persons and forced 200,000 to evacuate. Mount Kelud, spewed red-hot ash and rocks late Thursday disrupting long-haul flights and closing international airports on Friday.
AFP correspondents at the scene saw terrified locals covered in ash fleeing in cars and on motorbikes towards evacuation centres. The ash has blanketed the Javanese cities of Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Solo.
The National Search and Rescue Agency warned residents not to return home as lava was still flowing through some villages, while sulphur was lingering in the air in others.
Earlier this month, another volcano, Mount Sinabung on western Sumatra Island, unleashed an enormous eruption that left at least 16 people dead and has been erupting on an almost daily basis since September.