Nun among dead as Indonesia volcano erupts

Mount Semeru, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted on Saturday, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens more.

The eruption sent a column of ash and smoke high into the sky, and pyroclastic flows - fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic material - raced down the volcano's slopes, destroying everything in their path.

Among the victims was a nun who was killed while trying to help evacuate people from the danger zone.

The eruption also caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

The Indonesian government has declared a state of emergency and is providing assistance to the victims of the eruption.

Mount Semeru is located on the island of Java, which is home to more than 140 million people.

The volcano has erupted several times in recent years, but Saturday's eruption was the most powerful in decades.

Volcanic eruptions are a common occurrence in Indonesia, which is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped region around the Pacific Ocean that is home to about 75% of the world's volcanoes.

The Ring of Fire is a result of the movement of tectonic plates, which are large pieces of the Earth's crust that move around the globe.

When tectonic plates collide, one plate is forced to move beneath the other, which can cause volcanoes to form.

Indonesia is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and is also prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

The Indonesian government has a long history of dealing with natural disasters, and has developed a number of programs to help people prepare for and recover from these events.

However, the country's large population and its location on the Ring of Fire mean that natural disasters will continue to be a major challenge for Indonesia.