A volatile volcano in central Indonesia has unleashed its most powerful eruption, spewing hot ash and smoke thousands of meters into the air. Panicked villagers living nearby have rushed back to emergency shelters.

A volatile volcano in central Indonesia has unleashed its most powerful eruption, spewing hot ash and smoke thousands of meters into the air. Panicked villagers living nearby have rushed back to emergency shelters.

Mount Lokon, located on northern Sulawesi island, has been dormant for years. But it rumbled back to life late last week. A series of overnight blasts on Thursday and Friday claimed one life - a woman who suffered a heart attack as she fled. More than 33,000 people live along the slopes of Mount Lokon, taking advantage of fertile soil to grow cloves and coffee.

About 5000 of them with homes nearest to the crater have been relocated in recent days to schools, mosques and other makeshift shelters near the base. Despite warnings that the mountain was still not safe, some returned early on Sunday to tend to their crops and their livestock.