Thousands on alert in Indonesia's Java after Mt. Semeru eruption

Volcanic ash is seen from Candipuro district following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, in Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 4, 2022, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Samsul Arifin via REUTERS

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Thousands of residents in Indonesia's East Java were on high alert on Monday after a violent eruption at the island's tallest volcano prompted authorities to impose an 8-kilometer no-go zone and forced evacuations of entire villages.

The provincial search and rescue agency deployed teams to the worst-affected areas near Mount Semeru to assess damage, with low rainfall giving some reprieve, Tholib Vatelehan, a Basarnas spokesperson, told Reuters.