People fled for their lives after Indonesia’s tallest volcano began spewing humongous ash clouds on Saturday. According to volcano monitoring experts, the ash clouds are believed to have reached heights of up to 50,000ft with some witnesses reporting they blacked out the sun in places.
The volcano, situated in the Lumajang district of East Java began erupting around 5pm local time (10am UK time).
Lumajang district head Thoriqul Haq told TVOne: “Thick columns of ash have turned several villages to darkness.”
In a statement, health officials confirmed 13 people had been killed, only two of whom have been identified.
They added that nearly 100 people had been injured including two pregnant women.
A further 900 have been evacuated from the nearby area.
The nation’s transportation ministry urged all airlines to avoid routes near the volcano but confirmed flights were still operating.
The huge volcano stands at an impressive 12,060 ft and is one of Indonesia's nearly 130 active volcanoes.
Dramatic footage of the eruption on Twitter, shows dozens of terrified locals fleeing in terror from the rising smoke.
READ MORE: Countries once loyal to Crown being seduced by Beijing
One local who posted a photo online said: “Friends, please pray for me, I hope my family is fine. Just now, it's really bursting.”
Evacuation efforts were further exacerbated by an approaching thunderstorm and rain.
The rain which merged with the fallen ash caused thick mud which helped push lava and debris down the sides of the volcano, destroying around 30 buildings and a bridge connecting two main villages of Pronojiwo and Candipuro.
Mr Haq also told Reuters that a road and bridge from the area to the nearby city of Malang had been severed.
DON'T MISS:
Guy Verhofstadt slammed for using crisis to bash Britain and Brexit [REVEAL]
La Palma volcanic eruption rages on after more than 70 days [INSIGHT]
Europeans told to evacuate their homes 'every night for a month' [SPOTLIGHT]
He said: “This has been a very pressing, rapid condition since it erupted.”