Indonesia Volcano eruption: FRIGHTENING moment Mount Soputan ERUPTS after earthquake

Mount Soputan erupted on Sulawesi Island in Indonesia this morning at 8.47am local time (2.57am BST).

A second eruption also took place with a separate volcano, named the Son of Krakatoa, erupting in Java and spewing lava into the air, just minutes after Mount Soputan started to erupt. 

A video shows the first explosion on Sulawesi Island, with ash thrown as high as 5,809 metres above sea level.

The footage, taken from a distance, observes an ash plume forming above Mount Soputan, just days after at least 1,374 people were killed following an earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia. 

Volcanic ash is predicted to fall in an area to the north-west of the mountain.

A warning from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) states: “The community should not have activities in all areas within a 4km radius of the peak of Mount Soputan, and within the sectoral expansion area to the west-south-west direction as far as 6.5km from the peak which is a crater opening area to avoid the potential threat of lava and hot clouds.”

The volcano explosion is not currently interfering with flights, with the region issuing an orange Volcano Observatory Notice of Aviation.

Indonesia is located in the Ring of Fire region, one of the worst affected areas by earthquakes in the world.

The volcanic zone is home to 452 volcanoes. 

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, Head of Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management, tweeted about the second volcano eruption: “Mount child of Krakatoa erupted almost daily.

“On 2/10/2018 156 eruptions occurred, throwing sand and ash, incandescent lava.

“The volcano’s condition is safe if it is outside the radius of 2 km from the crater.

“Interesting to see the tourist phenomenon the mountain erupted in a safe place.”

The two explosions come after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck on Friday, triggering a 6-metre high tsunami which devastated the city of Palu.

The death toll from the catastrophic earthquake has reached at least 1,350, but the number is predicted to rise.

Aid supplies are starting to arrive in the city of Palu, with police guarding shops from looters as tensions in the area rise.