Volcanoes flare up across Indonesia

Feeling the heat: Mount Marapi volcano spewing smoke and hot lava as seen from Batang Silasiah, Agam, West Sumatra province. — Reuters

Mount Merapi erupted, spreading searing gas clouds and avalanches of lava down its slopes as other active volcanoes flared up across the country, forcing the evacuation of thousands.

On the densely populated island of Java, Merapi unleashed clouds of hot ash and a mixture of rock, and lava that travelled up to 2km down its slopes, said Agus Budi Santoso, the head of Indonesia’s Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Centre.