Hundreds flee as Indonesian volcano erupts

A file NASA satellite image shows a large cloud of ash and smoke erupting from Mount Egon on the Indonesian island of Flores. Hundreds of Indonesians have fled their homes after the volcano erupted spewing ash and smoke thousands of metres into the air, authorities said Wednesday.

(todayonline) -- Hundreds of Indonesians have fled their homes after a volcano erupted spewing ash and smoke thousands of metres into the air, authorities said Wednesday.

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Breathing masks and clean water have been rushed to the eastern island of Flores where the 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) high Mount Egon erupted late Tuesday, they said.

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Indonesia's vulcanology office said 600 people from a village near the crater had been evacuated, but a local official said 23,000 were living in the danger zone. full story