Blistering gas from Indonesia’s most volatile volcano spewed farther than expected today, incinerating houses at the edge of the danger zone, triggering chaotic evacuations and pushing the death toll in more than a week to nearly 100.

The death toll from an earthquake and killer tsunami in Indonesia climbed to 272 today as helicopters with rescuers and emergency supplies finally reached the remote islands.

The death toll from an Indonesian tsunami has climbed to 154 with more than 400 people still missing, an official said today, as rescuers tried to help its victims and those affected by an erupting volcano.