Mount Semeru in Indonesia erupted, pouring ash and smoke about 5.6 km (3.4 miles) into the sky above Java, the country’s most populous island.
No evacuation orders have been issued so far and no casualties have been reported.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (NDMA) has warned residents living on the mountain slopes to be alert to ongoing volcanic activity.
The images showed the ashes of the 3,676 meters (12,060 feet) volcano hovering over the houses.
“The villages of Sumber Mujur and Curah Koboan [in Lumajang municipality] are located on the path of the hot clouds, “said local official Thoriqul Haq on Saturday.
Residents of the Curah Kobokan River basin were urged to observe possible “cold lava” mud flows, which can be triggered by heavy rains combined with volcanic material.
Mount Semeru erupted at around 17:24 local time (10:24 GMT), officials said.
Indonesia is in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes.
Semeru – also known as “The Great Mountain” – is the highest volcano in Java and one of the most active. It is also one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations for hiking.
The volcano erupted earlier in December, when around 550 people were evacuated.
In the last week, Indonesia suffered several landslides, a deadly earthquake on the island of Sulawesi and the loss of a Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 with 62 people on board.