INDONESIA, 30 November 2020, (TON): Avolcano erupted in eastern Indonesia on Sunday, produced much flames and ashes as high as 4,000 meters into the sky and forcing the evacuation of thousands of native residents.

Nearly 2,800 people from at least 28 villages were evacuated from the slopes of Mount Ili Lewotolok, which is situated on Lembata island of East Nusa Tenggara province, as the volcano started erupting. There were no confirmed reports of deaths or injuries from the eruption according to local officials.

The Transportation Ministry issued a warning after the eruption and a local airport had been closed as ashes rained down on many areas of the island.

Mount Ili Lewotolok has been erupting off and on since October 2017. The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center raised the volcano's alert level to the second-highest level on Sunday after sensors picked up increasing activity.

The 5,423-meter mountain is one of three currently erupting in Indonesia along with Merapi on Java island and Sinabung on Sumatra island.

They are among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

After the eruption, the Disaster Mitigation Agency advised villagers and climbers to stay 4 kilometers from the crater and be aware of the peril of lava.