Ash blankets Indonesia villages after volcano eruption

Hot ash tumbled as far as 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) down the slopes of Mount Semeru in Indonesia, triggering panic among villagers. Falling ash and sulfur blanketed several villages around its slopes. The 3,676-meter (12,060-feet) mountain in Lumajang district is the highest volcano on Indonesia’s most densely populated island of Java.

A man walks on a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

A rescue worker uses his radio next to a lava flow area following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 3, 2020.

Villagers check their agricultural land, which was affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 3, 2020.

Rescue workers stand next to a lava flow area following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 3, 2020.

A general view shows a steaming stream caused by a lava flow following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

Villagers gather to check the damage caused by lava flows following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

People look at the flow of volcanic ash being carried by the water following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 3, 2020.

A villager checks agricultural land that was affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 3, 2020.

People stand near a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

People are seen in a middle of a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

Animals are seen dead after being exposed to volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

People are seen on a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

Villagers gather to check the damage caused by lava flows following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

People are seen on a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

A man walks on a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.

A general view of a road blanketed with volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2020.