1,000 evacuated as Indonesian volcano erupts again

A large eruption of searing hot gas and volcanic debris sent more than 1,000 villagers fleeing from the slopes of Mount Merapi today, a day after Indonesian government scientists lowered the alert level at the mountain.

Most of those who fled from three villages on the mountain’s southern slopes had returned home earlier today after spending several weeks in camps lower down the peak, said villager Edi Egan.