Haunting TikToks capture horror of living through huge volcanic eruption

Indonesia is no stranger to a volcanic eruption

The eruption of a major volcano on the Indonesian island of Java left the sky blackened by ash and citizens running from their homes. A now-viral TikTok shows an almost unearthly sky filled with ash as the clouds head towards a nearby town. Located in an area commonly referred to as the 'Ring of Fire' due to its proximity to a variety of the world's most active volcanos, explosive activity is not an unknown occurrence in Indonesia. Not only is the region home to 75 per cent of the most active volcanoes on the planet but it's also the location of the biggest eruption in history. Mount Semeru in Lumajang district in East Java province erupted on Saturday December 4, with clouds of ash that propelled 12,000 meters up into the air.

@novanhendri510##semeru europsi semoga selalu dalam lindungan ALLAH SWT♬ suara asli - novanhendri510

"Thick columns of ash have turned several villages to darkness," said Lumajang district head Thoriqul Haq. "Locals here thought it was just usual floods. We did not know it was hot mud. All of a sudden, the sky turned dark as rain and hot smoke came. Thankfully, it was raining so we could breathe," one witness told AFP. Lava mixed with excessive rainwater produced thick boiling mud that destroyed housing, infrastructure and even a bridge used to connect Lumajang and the neighbouring district of Malang.

@novanhendri510semoga selalu di mudahkan dan bisa melewati bencana europsi semeru♬ suara asli - novanhendri510

Videos from social media depict horrific circumstances many of us could not even begin to comprehend. In another video, cataclysmic sounds of the eruption fill the air as gas and ash rush into the sky. Rivers of boiling mud with steam rolling off the top hurtled down the countryside.

@tamitachandr#semeru♬ suara asli - michan

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari stated that at least 13 villagers had been declared dead, many of which were caused by excessive burns. A further 57 people were hospitalised, including 16 in critical condition. At least seven residents are still missing, with rescuers also searching for missing sand miners. "Suddenly everything went dark, the bright afternoon turned into night. A rumbling sound and heat forced us to run to the mosque," one resident told NPR. "It was a far stronger eruption than in January." In this instance, social media has been a gift that has enabled people to share on the ground footage of such a horrific event. Related links:

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