Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano erupts

The eruption throughout the day blocked out the sun and blanketed several villages with falling ash, local sources reported.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, the National Disaster Management Agency said.

Mount Merapi is an active stratovolcano located on the border between the province of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548.

It is located approximately 28 km (17 mi) north of Yogyakarta city which has a population of 2.4 million, and thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, with villages as high as 1,700 m (5,577 ft) above sea level. (ILKHA)