Volcano erupts in Java, tsunami warning goes off in Japan

Tsunami alert in Japan following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano on the Indonesian island of Java.

The phenomenon has resulted in ash clouds reaching nearly two kilometers into the atmosphere .

Even in Java, the alarm is high, with the Center for Volcanology and Mitigation of Geological Disasters which has "increased the danger status of Mount Semeru from level three to level four (the highest level)".

"This means that the population is threatened and that the volcano's activity has intensified," Center spokesman Hendra Gunawan told Kompas TV.

(Unioneonline/D)