Severe and deadly eruption of Semeru volcano in Indonesia

The highest volcano on Java island spewed thick columns of ash into the sky in a sudden eruption Saturday triggered by heavy rain. Villages and nearby towns were blanketed in ash, and several hamlets were buried under tons of mud from volcanic debris.

An area is covered in volcanic ash in Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Trucks are covered by volcanic ash that spewed out of Mount Semeru, in Sumber Wuluh village, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Villagers evacuate their homes in Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

A house is seen covered in volcanic ash at Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang after the Semeru volcano eruption that killed at least 15 people, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

A villager rests in an area covered in volcanic ash in Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Villagers gather at an evacuation center in Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021

Cooking utensils are seen covered in volcanic ash in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Mount Semeru spews hot clouds of ash as seen from Pronojiwo, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Rescuers search for survivors at Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

A family portrait still hangs in a damaged home in the village of Sumber Wuluh in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021

Rescuers carry away the body of a victim in Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

A flower is covered in volcanic ash, following the eruption of the Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

A man stands amid damaged houses covered in volcanic ash from Mount Semeru in Sumber Wuluh village, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Ash and smoke spew from the Mount Semeru volcano, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

Houses and trucks are covered in ash following a volcanic eruption from Mount Semeru that killed a least 15 people, in Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

Injured livestock are seen after the eruption of the Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang, East Java Province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

An aerial view of the damaged houses in Sumber Wuluh village after the eruption of the Mount Semeru volcano in Lumajang regency, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

A local transports long beans on a motorbike on a road covered with volcanic ash in an area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru in Candipuro district, Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

A woman weeps after her house was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang district, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

A chicken walks in an area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru in the Lumajang district, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

The swaths of ash from the eruption of Mount Semeru cover a village area in the Lumajang district, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

Villagers and rescuers inspect an area covered with volcanic ash at Sumber Wuluh village, in Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.

Rescue workers find a victim in an area affected by the eruption of the Mount Semeru volcano in Sumberwuluh village, Lumajang, Indonesia, Dec. 6, 2021.

Villagers look at a bridge destroyed by lava following the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang district, East Java province, Indonesia, Dec. 5, 2021.