Fresh eruptions from Indonesian volcano

Mount Merapi volcano on Indonesia's Java island has erupted again throwing columns of ash into the air.

The ash spread as far as the city of Yogyakarta, the provincial capital, 25 kilometres away from Merapi, forcing the temporary closure of Adi Sutjipto airport after runways were covered in ash for one hour.

"At six o'clock this morning we knew the airport was hit by a thick layer ash and it could be a threat for airplanes, so we closed it for a while. And there are delays and diverted flights from this airport," said Halendrea YW, operational manager of Adi Soetjipto airport.

Villagers rushed away from the danger zones after hearing loud explosions and seeing dust rains before dawn. Some said the explosions were louder than the first explosion.

Despite orders to evacuate a 10-kilometre danger zone around Merapi, many stayed put in their homes, disaster agency chief Syamsul Ma'arif said.

In a shelter in the village of Hargo Binangun, officials said they must stand guard for 24 hours to prevent villagers from returning home. They are also being told to keep face masks on.