EAST FLORES - At least ten people died after a volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted several times overnight, officials said, raising the alert level to the highest of a four-tiered system.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the popular tourist island of Flores, spewed ash and lava that peppered the surrounding area with fireballs, forcing authorities to evacuate several villages.
"The death toll from the Lewotobi Laki-Laki's eruption is now 10 people," agency spokesman Abdul Muhari told a press conference.
Footage received by AFP showed villages near the volcano covered by thick ash, with some areas on fire.
An AFP journalist near the volcano said five villages evacuated.
Some wooden houses caught fire, and the ground was pockmarked with holes caused by molten rocks.
The country's volcanology agency raised the alert level to the highest and told locals and tourists not to carry out activities within a seven-kilometre radius of the crater.
"There has been a significant increase in volcanic activity on Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki," it said in a press release Monday.
It warned there was a potential for rain-induced lava floods and told locals to wear masks to avoid the effects of volcanic ash.
The mountain had several major eruptions in January, prompting authorities at the time to raise the alert status to the highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents.