Mount Lokon, in the northern Sulawesi province of Central Indonesia has erupted spewing hot lava and volcanic ash to as high as 5000 feet on Friday.

There were a total of three blasts, the first one occuring just before midnight on Thursday followed by a second one after midnight and a third blast on Friday.

Although there are no reports of causalities, panicked residents evacuated the area to safe locations.

The geography of Indonesia is dominated by a number of volcanoes among which Mount Lokon is the most active. The volcanoes in the region are a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire where a large number of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and floods occur.

Reuters reported that the nearby international airport in the provincial capital of Manado was still operating normally.

Take a look at the first pictures of the volcanic eruption below:

Central Indonesian Volcano Erupts Spewing Hot Lava, Thousands Flee.
Mount Lokon spews hot lava and volcanic ash during an eruption in Tomohon in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province. Reuters.
Central Indonesian Volcano Erupts Spewing Hot Lava, Thousands Flee.
Mount Lokon spews hot lava and volcanic ash during an eruption in Tomohon in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province. Reuters.