Indonesian volcano erupts, causing evacuations due to ash cloud

A volcano in Indonesia, Mount Semeru, erupted early this morning, sending a massive ash cloud 54,000 feet into the atmosphere and prompting a flight safety warning. The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency has evacuated elderly residents from nearby districts as pyroclastic flows reached 8.5 kilometers from the summit. Following the eruption, the volcano’s activity level was raised to Level III, and a red aviation alert was issued. The Japan Meteorological Agency is assessing the potential for a tsunami as a result of the eruption.

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