A powerful volcanic eruption in Indonesia sent residents fleeing as Mount Semeru released a towering ash column and pyroclastic flow — a fast-moving, superheated cloud of dense volcanic gas, ash and debris capable of destroying nearly everything in its path.

The eruption began around 4 p.m. local time on Wednesday in East Java , producing what officials described as a “dense and towering” volcanic column, according to Indonesia’s Semeru Observation Post.

Authorities raised the volcano’s alert level to its highest tier and urged residents to evacuate as activity continued into Wednesday evening.

Video from the scene shows a gray pyroclastic flow surging down the slopes of Semeru, quickly overtaking a bridge as people recording the event scrambled to safety.

According to the U.S. G

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