The most active volcano in Indonesia, Mount Merapi, erupted early on Tuesday leading to a code-red aviation alert. Plumes of smoke and ash filled the sky over its peak in the aftermath of the eruption, going as high as 19,680 feet (6,000 meters).

Mount Merapi is located about 19 miles off Java Island. The eruption has also triggered sweltering gas clouds to emerge in the main island of Java and the ash cloud moving north, Indonesia's Geology and Volcanology Research Agency said on its website.

The code-red – the highest level of warning for aviation – was issued following the significant emission of ash into the atmosphere due to the eruption, the Centre for Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development (BPPTKG) said in a statement.

Mount Merapi, which has an elevation of about 9612.861 feet (2,930 meters), had ash fall around its 3.7-mile radius after the eruption occurred at around 5:22 a.m. local time on Tuesday (5:22 p.m. EST, Monday). The eruption reportedly lasted for nearly eight minutes.

The volcano, in a series of eruptions in 2010, killed over 350 people.

The international airport in Solo, a city in the Java province and also the nearest one from the volcano, had been temporarily shut down since 9:25 p.m. EST on Monday (9:25 a.m. local time, Tuesday).

Neighboring village leaders told local news agency Antara that they were carrying out their routine activities regardless of the explosion. "Residents are monitoring the situation, although they are going about their daily activities as per normal," Marwoto, Klakah village head, said, adding students were going to school and farmers were continuing to work in the fields.

No casualties were reported following the explosion.

The eruption of the Taal volcano left much of the surrounding island buried under ash
The eruption of the Taal volcano left much of the surrounding island buried under ash AFP / Ted ALJIBE
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