See Indonesia’s Mount Slamet Spew Lava and Ash

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Indonesia’s Mount Slamet began spewing lava again Thursday morning after a four-day silence, sending ash tumbling down on nearby villages.

Authorities banned activity within four kilometers of the peak and are prepared to evacuate some 24,000 residents from seven villages with roughly four miles of the crater, the Associated Press reports.

The eruption Thursday followed a series of loud bangs and sent molten material as much as 3,000 feet above the peak, according to the Jakarta Post. Forests on the northern side of the volcano were destroyed.

The alert status has stood at level 3 since August—a level 4 alert, the highest, would prompt the evacuation, according to the Post. The volcano, one of about 130 across the country, last erupted in 2009.

Look at These Incredible Close-Ups of a Volcanic Eruption in Iceland

Glowing lava flows from an eruption at the Holuhraun lava field near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
Lava erupts up to 100 meters in the air at Bardarbunga, Sept. 2, 2014.
Lava bursts up to some 328 feet (100 meters) in the air near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
Creeping lava and a mirage from the heat distorting the view of the lava fountains in the distance. The heat may be over 1000 degrees Celsius. Bardarbunga, Sept. 2, 2014.
Heat from the lava distorts the view of the fountains in the distance near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
A late afternoon wide angle view over a part of the 2 km long fissure erupting and the cloud of fumes and steam rising into the air.
A late afternoon view of part of the fissure erupting as fumes and steam rise into the air near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
Lava fountain and black lava in the foreground. Bardarbunga / Holuhraun eruption. Iceland Central Highlands 2014.
A fountain splashes up over a layer of cooled black lava in the foreground near Bardarbunga. Sept. 2.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-Images.com
The lava-producing fissure eruption began on Aug. 31, but part of it was already extinct the next day. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
The lava-producing fissure eruption began on Aug. 31, but part of it was already extinct the next day. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
Much of the eruption plume is water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
Much of the eruption plume is water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
A pulled-back view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
A pulled-back view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
Individual craters, made of lava spatter and scoria around each vent, line the active fissure. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
Individual craters, made of lava spatter and scoria around each vent, line the active fissure. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
A close-up view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
A close-up view of the lava flow and massive plumb of water vapor. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1, 2014.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com
Heavy activity in the northern half of the fissure sent a white plumb some 15,000 feet into the sky and pushed lava across the cold sand below. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.
Heavy activity in the northern half of the fissure sent a white plumb some 15,000 feet into the sky and pushed lava across the cold sand below. Bardarbunga, Sept. 1.Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson—Arctic-images.com

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