This is the incredible moment when a huge volcano erupted in Indonesia sending ash spewing an estimated 12 miles into the sky.
The
powerful explosion took place at Mount Sangeang Api in the Lesser Sunda
Islands - an area that plays host to 129 active volcanoes - and sent a
distinctive spaceship-shaped ring of pyroclastic smoke high into the
air.
The
photographs were taken by professional photographer Sofyan Efendi
during a commercial flight from Bali to the fishing town of Labuan Bajo
in West Nusa Tenggara province.
Scores
of farmers who work but do not live on the island were ordered to leave
and not return until the volcano has finished erupting, said Muhammad
Hendrasto, head of Indonesia's National Volcanology Agency. There are
not believed to have been any deaths or injuries as a result of the
eruption.
Authorities
have had Mount Sangiang Api - which means 'Mountain of Spirits' in
Balinese - on high alert for almost a year, he told China's Xinhua news
agency.
The
volcano sits in Indonesia's notorious 'Ring of Fire' - an area where a
large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of
the Pacific Ocean. It has 452 volcanoes - 75 per cent of the world's
total.
Since Sangiang Api's first recorded eruption in 1512, it is believed to have erupted a total of 20 times.
Eruption: The powerful explosion
took place at Mount Sangeang Api in the Lesser Sunda Islands - an area
that plays host to 129 active volcanoes. The Sunda Islands sit inside
Indonesia's notorious 'Ring of Fire'. Since Sangiang Api's first
recorded eruption in 1512, it is believed to have erupted a total of 20
times
Eerie: After erupting, the volcano sent a
distinctive spaceship-shaped ring of pyroclastic smoke high into the
air. Pilots in the area reported seeing the cloud rising to 65,000 feet,
spreading over a 25 mile area
Stunning: The photographs were taken by
professional photographer Sofyan Efendi during a commercial flight from
Bali to the fishing town of Labuan Bajo
Cloud: The volcano sits in Indonesia's notorious
'Ring of Fire' - an area where a large number of earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It has 452
volcanoes - 75 per cent of the world's total
Safety concerns: Scores of
farmers who work but do not live on the island were ordered to leave and
not return until the volcano has finished erupting
Safety concerns: Scores of
farmers who work but do not live on the island were ordered to leave and
not return until the volcano has finished erupting
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