A powerful burst of hot ash and gravel has erupted from a rumbling volcano in western Indonesia, sending panicking villagers fleeing down the mountain.

An Indonesian volcano shot a towering cloud of black ash high into the air today, dusting villages 15 miles (25km) away – its most powerful eruption since awaking from four centuries of dormancy.

AN Indonesian volcano that had been quiet for four centuries shot a powerful new burst of hot ash more than 10,000 feet in the air yesterday, sending frightened residents fleeing to safety for the second time this week.

An Indonesian volcano that had been quiet for four centuries shot a powerful new burst of hot ash more than 10,000 feet in the air today, sending frightened residents fleeing to safety for the second time this week.

Villagers returned to their homes today along the fertile slopes of an Indonesian volcano that spewed hot ash and smoke after lying dormant for more than four centuries – catching scientists off guard.

A VOLCANO in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early yesterday in its first eruption in 400 years.

A volcano in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early today in its first eruption in 400 years.