Indonesian president visits eruption survivors and vows to rebuild

Indonesian president Joko Widodo, centre, visits an area covered in ash following the volcanic eruption (Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)

Indonesia’s president visited areas devastated by a powerful volcanic eruption that killed at least 34 people and left thousands homeless, and vowed that communities would be quickly rebuilt.

Clouds of hot ash were sent into the sky and an avalanche of lava and gas swept up to seven miles (11km) down Mount Semeru’s slopes in a sudden eruption on Saturday triggered by heavy rain.