Cloudy weather obscured views of the peak. Mount Merapi is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently.

Villagers living on Merapi’s fertile slopes are advised to stay 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the crater’s mouth and should be aware of the peril of lava, the agency said.

Don't be fooled: although lava is erupting, there does appear to be significant ash production as well. Merapi erupting on October 29, 2010. Lava flows can be seen in the summit crater.

Villagers living on Merapi’s fertile slopes are advised to stay 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the crater’s mouth and should be aware of the peril of lava, the agency said.

In this photo taken using slow camera shutter speed, hot lava runs down from the crater of Mount Merapi, in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, early Monday, Aug. 9, 2021.