Viral video shows massive cloud of ash from Indonesia volcano erupts

A viral video on Twitter shows massive clouds of smoke as Indonesia's highest volcano erupted, sending a plume of ash about 50,000 feet into the sky.

What happened to Indonesia as thousands of people living on the country's main island, Java evacuated to safety after hot avalanches of lava poured from the Mount Semeru volcano.

The authorities forced evacuations of entire villages and imposed an eight-kilometer no-go zone. As the island's tallest volcano erupted, several villages were blanketed with falling ash, blocking out the sun, but no casualties have been reported.

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Semeru, also known as The Great Mountain, is one of the most active volcanoes. Last time, it erupted exactly one year ago, killing 50 people and leaving streets filled with mud and ash.

A series of earthquakes jolted the west of Java island last month, killing more than 300 people, according to an eruption on Sunday.

The video of the eruption, shot by residents, shows Semeru spewing a giant cloud of grey ash high above its crater as it engulfed the mountain and surrounding areas.

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