Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano spews lava and ash – in pictures

Hundreds of Indonesians flee villages after the rumbling volcano spewed hot ash thousands of metres into the air and spouted lava from its crater

A villager watches as lava streams down from Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java province. AFP

Lava streams down from Mount Semeru as seen from Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

Lava streams down from Mount Semeru as seen from Lumajang, East Java province. AFP

A man walks next to a river in the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

An excavator is buried in volcanic ash in the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

A river in the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

A villager watches a steaming stream caused by lava flow in Lumajang, East Java province, following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano. AFP

A damaged vehicle hit by volcanic material in the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

A man walks on a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java Province, Indonesia. Reuters

People are seen on road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java Province, Indonesia. Reuters

People gather near an excavator buried in volcanic, after an eruption of Mount Semeru, at a sand mining site in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

People are seen in a middle of a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java Province, Indonesia. Reuters

Villagers gather at an evacuation center following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, East Java province. AFP

Villagers gather inside a makeshift shelter at a class room after they fled their villages due to the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

Villagers gather inside a makeshift shelter at a class room after they fled their villages due to the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia. EPA

Hundreds of Indonesians fled their villages after a rumbling volcano spewed hot ash thousands of metres into the air and belched lava from its crater.

Mount Semeru on Java island spouted the towering column on ash on Tuesday, prompting a call for about 500 people to temporarily leave their homes.

Footage from the scene showed dead livestock covered by pyroclastic flows, a fast-moving mixture of hot gas and volcanic material, as steaming debris flowed into a river. There were no reports of injuries or deaths.

Indonesia is home to about 130 active volcanoes.