Jakarta: The death toll following the eruption of a volcano on Indonesia’s island, Java has risen to 13, with seven people still missing, officials said Sunday.

As per details, more than 300 families with children took shelter in badly hit Curah Kerobokan village in Lumajang after their houses were destroyed by volcanic ash and lava.

Several villages were blanketed with falling ash in Indonesia’s most densely populated island.  

As per Eko Budi Lelono, who heads the geological survey center, a thunderstorm and days of rain, which eroded and collapsed the lava dome atop the 3,676-meter (12,060-foot) Semeru, triggered the eruption.

Videos shared on Saturday by the country’s disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) showed residents running in panic as towering smoke and ash blanketed some nearby villages in Lumajang district.

As per reports, thick columns of ash have turned several villages to darkness and several hundred people were moved to temporary shelters or left for other safe areas.

Authorities were setting up evacuation tents, but evacuations have been hampered by thick smoke, BNPB chief Suharyanto said.

Catatan yang dihimpun Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG), guguran lava pijar teramati dengan jarak luncur kurang lebih 500-800 meter dengan pusat guguran berada kurang lebih 500 meter di bawah kawah. pic.twitter.com/i3IorFweRf

— BNPB Indonesia (@BNPB_Indonesia) December 4, 2021

The eruption took place at about 14:30 local time (07:30 GMT). Local authorities have set up a restricted zone within 5km (3 miles) from the crater.

Airlines have been warned of an ash cloud rising up to 15,000m (50,000 ft).

Mt Semeru was quite an active volcano that regularly spewed ash up to about 4,300m, but Yesterday’s eruption was a pretty intense.

Mt Semeru rises 3 676m above sea level and previously erupted last December, forcing thousands of residents to seek shelter. It is among Indonesia’s nearly 130 active volcanoes.

Moreover, Indonesia is on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates meet, causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

Videos shared by emergency officials and local media showed residents running away as a giant ash cloud rose behind them.

Lahore: Polling of NA-133 Lahore by-election has concluded and the counting of votes has begun across the 254 polling stations in the constituency, considered a "stronghold" of the PML-N.

According to details, the polling started at 8am this morning and continued till 5pm without any break after which the gates to the polling stations were closed off to any more voters.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of PML-N leader Pervaiz Malik who died of heart complications on October 11. His wife, Shaista Pervaiz Malik is the PML-N candidate, whereas the PPP fielded Aslam Gill for the election.

Moreover, ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates Jamshed Iqbal Cheema has been disqualified from contesting the election on technical grounds and his appeal has been earlier rejected by the election tribunal and later by the high court.

Karachi: Sindh Culture Day is being observed with traditional zeal and fervor on Sunday (December 5) to promote the centuries old culture of Indus valley civilization. 

Various programmes have been organized at government and no-government level across the province to celebrate the day.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his message on the occasion of Sindh Culture Day said this day gives us the lesson to respect all traditions and customs without any discrimination.

He said this day is the day against racism, extremism and discrimination.

Meanwhile, a Sindhi Culture rally was organized by PTI leaders in Umerkot today.

Addressing the rally, Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed severely criticized the performance of Sindh government.