Volcano erupted without warning at around 6pm local time with 1,500 people forced to leave their homes . Residents described people crying in the streets as they fled in the aftermath of the 'apocalypse-like ' eruption . The volcano is located on a remote island chain off the coast of Indonesia and has been active for more than 100 years, but it was only recently that scientists realised how dangerous its activity could be The plume of ash and smoke blanketed the sky and was visible in towns up to 100 miles away in Argentina .
Volcano erupted without warning at around 6pm local time with 1,500 people forced to leave their homes . Residents described people crying in the streets as they fled in the aftermath of the 'apocalypse-like ' eruption . It is the first time the volcano has been active since 1972 , and the first major eruption there since 1961 . The plume of ash and smoke blanketed the sky and was visible in towns up to 100 miles away in Argentina .