Thousands flee as volcano erupts on Indonesia's Java

Thousands of people were fleeing their homes, as Mount Kelud on Indonesia's Java island erupted, sending hot ash and rocks 3,000 metres into the air Thursday, dpa reported."Mount Kelud first erupted at 10.50 pm and is still erupting at the moment," said Sutopo Nugoroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency."Thousands of people are seeking refuge in safer places and more people are being evacuated."There were no reports of casualties.Authorities raised the volcano alert to the highest level and advised residents to stay away from a 10-kilometre exclusion zone around Kelud in East Java province.Nugoroho said ash and rocks are expected to reach 15 kilometres down the volcano's flanks.About 200,000 people live within the exclusion zone, he said. The 1,731-metre Mount Kelud in East Java province last erupted in 2007.