Kelud's ash covers parts of Java

The Mount Kelud volcano erupted late on Thursday (February 13) night on the heavily populated Indonesian island of Java, sending a huge plume of ash and sand 17 km (10 miles) into the air and forcing the closure of several airports.

The Adisutjipto International Airport in central Java was covered in thick volcanic ash.

Planes were coated in the black ash, their engine turbines covered in protection.

More than 150 flights have been cancelled at five area airports, local media reported.

Mount Kelud is 140 km south of Indonesia's second biggest city Surabaya, a major industrial centre.

The cloud from the eruption was seen as far as 9 km to the west. Residents close to the volcano were forced to evacuate their homes.

An estimated 200,000 people live within a 10 km radius of Mt Kelud, one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world's fourth most populous country.