Mount Semeru erupts, putting Indonesia on alert

Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupted on Saturday, sending ash into the sky and prompting evacuations to the country's main island of Java.

Authorities have raised the alert level for the volcano to its highest level. This means that the activity has escalated.

No injuries have been reported, but nearly 2,000 people have been evacuated from the area surrounding the volcano.

A "hot avalanche" is erupting from Semeru, and people are being asked to keep a distance of at least 8km (5 miles).