Indonesia Volcano Disaster 2010

Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia's most dangerous volcanoes, which first erupted on October 26, has killed over 120 people and forced the evacuation of more than 200,000.

The disaster happened a day after a tsunami hit western Indonesia, killing at least 445 people.

The volcano, which lies on the outskirts of the city of Yogyakarta on Java Island, covered nearby villages and towns in ash.

The ash cloud also disrupted flights in the region, burnt houses, vegetation and livestock. Terrified villagers have fled the area, joining the thousands already evacuated from its slopes.

Officials on Saturday extended the evacuation zone to 20 km (12 miles) from Merapi's summit, deploying 2,500 troops and 1,500 police to help manage the evacuation.

This is the second time in less than 20 years that the volcano has erupted. The last eruption in 1994 killed 70 people but its most lethal volcanic outburst was in 1930, where 1,300 people lost their lives.

These are images captured from the disaster in the last two weeks.

By: Geraldine Tan
Updated on 8 November

First posted 27 October 2010

Indonesia's Mount Merapi spews massive hot clouds of volcanic ash and rocks as seen from Sleman district in central Java on November 6, 2010. Merapi volcano killed over 120 people in its latest eruption, with scores more suffering severe burns, an official said.

Lava and ash spew from erupting Mount Merapi seen from Deles in Klaten district in Central Java province before dawn on November 7, 2010. Airlines canceled at least 36 flights to and from Jakarta on November 6, affecting international carriers from Europe to Asia, because of ash from the Mount Merapi volcano, an airport spokesman said.

Rescue teams walk on the dry hot mud to evacuate victims from the eruption of Mount Merapi volcano at the village of Ampringan in Cangkringan-Sleman, near Yogyakarta, on November 7, 2010. Mount Merapi, which is 430 kilometres (267 miles) from Jakarta on Central Java, first started erupting on October 26, has so far killed 128 people and started affecting flights to and from Jakarta on November 6 from the ash from the volcano.

Authorities are evacuating more than 11,000 villagers living on the slopes of the Mount Merapi volcano on Java Island after the alert status for an eruption was raised to the highest level on Monday.

A police officer helps a villager step down from a truck after being evacuated to Girikerto village in Sleman.

A car is covered with ash from the erupting Mount Merapi volcano at Kaliurang village in Sleman.

People wear face masks as ash from the erupting Mount Merapi volcano blankets a street at Kaliurang village in Sleman.

Rescuers search for missing bodies on the site after the eruption of Mount Merapi volcano at Kinahrejo village, Sleman.

Paramedics on standby as injured people arrive following the eruption of Mount Merapi, at Kaliurang village in Sleman.

Indonesia men stand on a street covered by ash from the erupting Mount Merapi volcano at Kaliurang village in Sleman.

A mother carries her son as she runs following the eruption of Mount Merapi, at Kaliurang village in Sleman.

Rescuers evacuate a victim at Kinahrejo village in Sleman after the eruption of Mount Merapi volcano.

Paramedics wheel an ash covered villager on a stretcher as Mount Merapi erupts at Kaliurang village in Sleman.

Paramedics wheel a villager injured during the Mount Merapi eruption, at Kaliurang village in Sleman.