The death toll in the eruption of volcano Semeru on the Indonesian island of Java has risen to 13, Indonesian media report. Dozens of people have been injured. Two of the fatalities have since been identified.
Rescuers managed to free ten people trapped in the eruption. They worked in a sand mine near the volcano.
Hundreds of people have left the area and have been taken to a safe area. The population has been urged to stay at least 5 kilometers away from the volcano. A thick layer of mud has formed due to a combination of the ash from the volcano and the heavy rain of recent days. According to the authorities, two bridges and several houses were destroyed as a result.
The more than 3600 meters high Semeru in East Java has erupted several times in the past year. Indonesia is located in the ‘ring of fire’, an area in the Pacific Ocean with almost 130 active volcanoes, where many earthquakes also occur.
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