Indonesia: The volcano erupted as thousands of bombs exploded

Three Indonesians were killed on February 14, after the Kelud volcano on Java island erupted violently, blowing ash and rocks tens of kilometers into the air. Many flights were canceled while volcanic explosions could be heard 200km away.

According to the Indonesian Agency for Disaster Reduction, the explosion from the Kelud volcano on Java Island can be heard from a location 200 kilometers away.

'Volcano erupts as if thousands of bombs exploded,' said Ratno Pramono, a 35-year-old farmer while checking his assets in the village of Sugihwaras, only 5km from the mountain. 'I thought the end of the world was coming. Women and children scream and cry for fear '.

Volcanoes covered ash in everything in a hundred-kilometer radius

Dust and rock fell throughout the region's cities, including Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city with 3 million inhabitants.

In Yogyakarta, drivers even have to turn on their headlights during the day due to volcanic ash reducing visibility.

Many workers hurriedly used canvas to cover the famous 900-year-old Borobudur temple, to protect the place.

At Pandansari village, a 60-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man were killed when their roof collapsed due to the weight of ash and lava, the local authorities said.

Another 70-year-old man was killed by the fallen wall while waiting to be evacuated from the same village, where the ashes were covered with 20cm thick.

Earlier, the Indonesian government ordered about 200,000 residents in villages within a 10km radius around the mountain to evacuate.

The Indonesian transport ministry also closed international airports in Surabaya, due to reduced visibility as well as the risk of ash damaging aircraft engines.

The plane is also covered with ash

According to Jakarta Post, at least 12 flights from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Djuanda Airport in Surabaya have been canceled.

When night falls, delicious volcanoes continue to boil, spraying very high ash into the air.

Muhammad Hendrasto, head of the Indonesian volcanic watchdog, said the mountain erupted violently about 90 minutes, after authorities raised the alert to the highest level.

Kediri, a busy and crowded town, 30km away from the mountain on February 14, is completely deserted, as people stay indoors to avoid dust and smoke.

'Smell of sulfur gas and fly ash is so thick that breathing becomes painful,' said Insaf Wibowo, a local resident.