Indonesia's tallest volcano, Mount Semeru, erupts, releasing a river of lava and clouds of gas

Biblical monsoon rains eroded and collapsed the dome of Mount Semeru, forcing hundreds of residents of East Java, Indonesia to evacuate the area to escape the lava flow

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Indonesia's tallest volcano erupts and rains down rivers of lava

Indonesia's tallest volcano has released terrifying clouds of gas and rivers of lava, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate the densely populated island.

Hot molten lava was pictured flowing down the slopes of Mount Semeru, rushing towards a nearby river in East Java, while several villages were blanketed in ashfall.

So far, no casualties have been reported, but several hundred people have been moved to temporary shelters or other safe areas.

Biblical monsoon rains eroded and eventually collapsed the lava dome on the 3,676-meter volcano, causing the eruption, according to National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari.

The last major eruption of Semeru took place in December last year and left 51 people dead in villages buried under layers of mud.

Mount Semeru spits smoke and ash (

Picture:

AGUS HARIANTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Several hundred others were injured with severe burns, and the eruption forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 villagers. The government has moved about 2,970 homes out of the danger zone.

Authorities have raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level, meaning "danger has threatened the settlement of residents and the activity of the volcano has intensified," said Hendra Gunawan, spokesperson for the Center for Volcanic and Geological Disaster Mitigation, on Kompas TV channel.

The local relief agency distributed free masks to the public due to the threat of polluted air to vulnerable residents.