Jakarta, Dec 15 (IANS): Mount Bromo volcano in Indonesia's East Java erupted on Tuesday, spewing columns of ash up to 1.5 km high, an official said.
Powerful bursts of hot ash and gravel erupted from the rumbling volcano at 6.00 a.m. (local time), heading as far as 2.5 km from the crater, Xinhua quoted Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency, as saying.
Tourist and visitors were banned from entering the slope by up to 2.5 km from the crater, Sutopo said.
"Residences are warned to keep vigilant over continuation of the eruption and possible greater eruption," he said.
The agency and local community have prepared for any emergency to counter possible risks of greater eruption, according to Sutopo.
The 3,829 metre high Mount Bromo last erupted in January 2011, forcing airlines to ground their planes.
Mount Bromo is one of Indonesia's 129 active volcanoes.