Indonesia Volcano: Moment of Mount Tangkuban Perahu erupting caught on camera in explosive video

Onlookers took copious videos of the volcano erupting at Mount Tangkuban Perahu in Indonesia's Bandung on the afternoon of July 26, with the visuals taking over social media. The crater of the Mount Tangkuban Perahu is a popular tourist attraction but following the eruption, tourists are being kept away from the vicinity. 

Here's the eruption:

The volcanic ash ascended about 200m up from the peak of the mountain, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has said, according to foreign media reports. After the eruption, thick grey volcanic ash spread to the south and northeast.

The volcano is about 30 kilometers north of Bandung, the capital of West Java province.

READ | Poor Lost Kangaroo Rescued After Running Amok In Australia's Wagga Wagga

While onlookers were recording the entire incident on camera, some panic-stricken tourists started to flee, fearing a huge disaster. In addition to this, the government has advised tourists to stay away from the popular destination owing to an increase in volcanic activities. The tourists have also been advised to not spend nights near the Mount Tangkuban Perahu complex, keeping precautionary measures in mind. 

Speaking about the eruption, Kasbani, PVMBG head, said in a statement to local media, "The eruption was recorded on the seismogram to have a maximum amplitude of 38mm with a duration of about five minutes and 30 seconds." 

Earlier, an alert was issued to the locals, traders, and employees of the Mount Tangkuban Perahu tourism complex before the eruption. Although there were no casualties reported, around 100 tourists were reportedly near the crater area when the eruption took place, according to media reports. 

READ | Man Lucky To Be Alive After Bungee Rope Snaps Mid-jump, Incident Caught On Video

Indonesia is on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire and has scores of active volcanoes, which sometimes pose a threat to life and disrupt air travel, particularly on the most heavily populated islands of Java and Bali.