Indonesia's Mount Merapi spewed massive clouds of gas and debris down its southern slopes today as it threatened villagers who have refused to leave the area around the country's most dangerous volcano.
Some scientists say a powerful May 27th earthquake that killed more than 5,700 people in an area just 40 kilometres south of Mount Merapi may have contributed to the volcano's volatility in recent weeks.
The mountain's lava dome has swelled, raising concerns that it could suddenly collapse and send scalding clouds of fast-moving gas, lava and rocks into populated areas.
"A lot of people are panicking," said Sutomo, a government official at the scene, who said 3,500 people fled Sleman district on Merapi's southern side. Another 12,000 left Magelang district, on the west.
Elsewhere, the Philippines has raised the alert level on one of its most active volcanoes and warned residents to stay away from the mountain after its crater belched ash clouds.
Bulusan volcano in central Philippines spewed ash nearly two kilometres high, prompting authorities to raise the alert level from that ordered in March when ash first began flowing from its crater.
Bulusan, one of the six most active volcanoes in the Philippines, has had five ash eruptions since March.
The Philippines, like neighbouring Indonesia, lies in an area of the Pacific basin that is vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.