Indonesia's Mount Semeru, the highest peak on Java island, erupted Wednesday, blanketing several villages with falling ash, prompting evacuations and leading authorities to raise the alert to the highest level.

Mount Semeru in East Java province unleashed searing clouds of hot ash and a mixture of rock, lava and gas that traveled up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) down its slopes several times from midday to dusk.

A thick column of hot clouds rose 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) into the air, Indonesia’s Geology Agency said in a statement.

The eruptions that unfolded throughout the day forced authorities to raise the volcano’s alert level twice, from the third-highest level to the highest, the agency said. No casualties have been reported.

Over 300 residents in the three villages most at risk in the district of Lumajang were evacuated to government shelters, according to a National Disaster Mitigation Agency's spokesperson.

At least 51 people died and hundreds of others were burned in villages that were buried under layers of mud during Semeru’s last major eruption in December 2021.

The eruption forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people. The government moved about 2,970 houses out of the danger zone.