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Indonesia's Merapi volcano erupts, covers villages in ash-VIDEO

11 March 2023 15:51 (UTC +04:00)

Indonesia's Mount Merapi, one of the world's most active volcanoes, erupted today, spewing out smoke and ash that blanketed villages near the crater, APA reports citing RTE.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, the country's disaster mitigation agency said.

Images broadcast on local outlet Kompas TV showed ash-covered houses and roads at a village near the volcano, located on Java Island, near Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta.

The Merapi Volcano Observatory estimated the ash cloud reached 3,000 metres above the summit.

Authorities established a restricted zone of 7km from the crater after the eruption, which was recorded at 12.12pm (5.12am Irish time).

"To anticipate potential danger from Mount Merapi eruption, the public is advised to stop any activities in the potential danger area," agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement.