Grounded: More than 200,000 people evacuated and five airports closed as volcano erupts on Indonesian island

Eruption sent plume of ash and sand 10 miles into the air and 300 miles to the west and northwest on island of Java

All families living within a six-mile radius of Mount Kelud were ordered to leave their homes as debris rained down

At least two people have been killed after roofs collapsed under the weight of the fallen ash, disaster agency says

Five airports in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Solo, Malang and Semarang have been shut down as visibility drops to 10m


A volcano erupted on the heavily populated Indonesian island of Java today, sending a huge plume of ash and sand 10 miles into the air and forcing the evacuation of more than 200,000 people and the closure of five airports.

Indonesia's national disaster agency ordered the evacuation of all families living within a six-mile radius of Mount Kelud.

The volcano is 54 miles south of Indonesia's second biggest city Surabaya, a major industrial centre.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho said the eruptions had ceased, but the ash had spread as far as 312 miles to the west and northwest, causing more problems, especially for airlines.

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Indonesian airport personnel inspect volcanic ash covered planes and the airport of Yogyakarta about 200 kilometers

Blotting out the sun: Thick volcanic ash spews high into the air as Mount Kelud erupts on the Indonesian island of Java, forcing the evacuation of some 200,000 people

There she blows: The eruption sent a huge plume of ash and sand 10 miles into the air 300 miles to the west and northwest of the volcano Cloud of chaos: The volcano is 54 miles south of Indonesia's second biggest city Surabaya, a major industrial centre

Mount Kelud is one of 130 active volcanoes in the world's fourth most populous country.

The agency estimated that up to 200,000 people living in its vicinity had been affected by the eruption, and some families were still being brought out of the evacuation zone.

The cloud from the eruption forced the shutdown of airports at Surabaya and the cities of Yogyakarta, Solo, Malang and Semarang in East Java and Central Java provinces, stranding thousands of passengers.

Local television networks showed images of cities and grounded airplanes blanketed in a layer of ash.

Other airports, including Denpasar on the resort island of Bali, were unaffected, so far, according to Garuda Indonesia , the national flag carrier.

Shrouded: Around 200,000 people living in its vicinity had been affected by the eruption and some families were still being brought out of the evacuation zone

Visibility down to just 10 metres: Motorcyclists are covered with ash from Mount Kelud as they navigate their way through the city of Solo Lurking threats: Mount Kelud is just one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world's fourth most populous country

Visibility in some affected areas dropped below 10 metres and schools were closed, while volunteers distributed masks and food to evacuees pouring into shelters.

As ash fell on the world's largest Buddhist temple Borobudur in Yogyakarta nearly 135 km away, authorities began covering stupas and statues of Buddha with plastic sheets, according to local media reports.

'Areas to the west of Mount Kelud, including central Java, Yogyakarta, Cilacap, Magelang, Temanggung and Boyolali are still experiencing showers of ash, because last night the biggest eruption... threw sand and ash 17km into the air,' Nugroho said.

Battling the elements: A man and woman are covered with ash from Mount Kelud as they ride their motorcycles in Yogyakarta

The sun was not visible as the sky was covered with volcanic ash material Indonesian students cover their faces as they walk on a road covered with volcanic ash from mount Kelud's eruption in Solo

Blotted out: Visibility in some areas dropped below 10 metres, while schools were closed and volunteers distributed masks and food to evacuees pouring into shelters

Dangerous dusting: The eruption otherwise caused minimal damage to buildings but had left 3cm to 5cm (1 1/2 to 2 inches) of ash and sand on roads

Operations were unaffected at a major oil refinery in Cilacap run by state-owned energy company Pertamina, officials said.

The refinery, with a capacity of 348,000 barrels per day, accounting for a little more than a third of Indonesia's total output of refined products.

'Thankfully, Cilacap operations are normal, although ash has indeed reached the Cilacap area,' said Pertamina spokesman Ali Mundakir. 'As a preventative measure, we have immediately prepared air filters for equipment there.'

East Java is the main area in Indonesia for sugarcane plantations, but officials expected limited damage to crops.

'The eruption will affect sugarcane plantations, but the impact is relatively small,' Soemitro Samadikoen, chairman of Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association told Reuters. 'With this very small impact and high stock (in the domestic market) we do not need to import white sugar from other countries.'

Grounded: An Indonesian airport official walks near an airplane covered with volcanic ash. Five airports were closed in the wake of the eruption

Health fears: Indonesian passengers wear masks after their flights were cancelled due to volcanic ash from Mount Kelud's eruption at Adi Sumarmo airport in Solo, Java

The disaster mitigation agency later said the cloud was dissipating and that the volcano was no longer erupting.

Nugroho said the disaster mitigation agency had confirmed two people were killed by the collapse of roofs due to the weight of the fallen ash.

The eruption otherwise caused minimal damage to buildings, Nugroho said, but had left 3cm to 5cm (1 1/2 to 2 inches) of ash and sand on roads.

Mt Kelud is just one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world's fourth most populous country.

At least 11 people were killed earlier this month in the north of the island of Sumatra when Mount Sinabung erupted.



The volcano has been spewing lava and ash for months, forcing thousands to flee the area and destroying crops.