Search under way after volcanic eruption buries Indonesian island homes

Villages and nearby towns were blanketed with falling ash, blocking out the sun, but no casualties have been reported.

Rescuers have resumed evacuation efforts and a search for possible victims after Indonesia’s Mount Semeru volcano erupted, triggered by monsoon rains (Imanuel Yoga/AP)

Improved weather conditions on Monday allowed rescuers to resume evacuation efforts and a search for possible victims after the highest volcano on Indonesia’s most densely populated island erupted, triggered by monsoon rains.

Mount Semeru in Lumajang district in East Java province spewed thick columns of ash nearly 5,000ft (1,500m) into the sky on Sunday.