Indonesia volcano

Mt. Semeru, on the island of Java, Indonesia, erupted on Dec. 5, blanketing nearby villages in ash and causing lahars, deadly flows of mud and ash. At least 22 people were killed and more than 50 were injured, with dozens of people still missing at press time. Many villages were completely buried with ash up to the roofs of homes.

Semeru is in a nearly constant state of activity, regularly producing magma and sending ash clouds into the air. However, this eruption was particularly violent and unexpected.