Jakarta:
A volcano in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early on Sunday in its first eruption in 400 years.
Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province sent sand and ash up to 1.5 kilometres high but lava only moved near the crater.
Up to 10,000 people have been evacuated from the volcano's slopes since last Friday, when the first signs of activity began.
Those who fled are staying in government buildings, churches and other evacuation centres in two nearby towns.
Indonesian TV reported that dozens of people were hospitalised with respiratory complaints related to the presence of ash and dust in the air.
One person reportedly died from respiratory complications.
Government vulcanologist Surono, who uses only one name, said Mount Sinabung started rumbling a few days ago, and added that the minor morning eruption had mostly stopped.
The eruption caused no major damage "but only dust covered plants and trees," he said.
Surono said Mount Sinabung last erupted in 1600, so observers did not know much about the volcano's eruption pattern and were monitoring it closely for more activity.
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is on the so-called 'Ring of Fire,' an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.