Urgent evacuation alerts were issued after a volcano spewed ash 32,000ft into the air, unleashing a 6.8 mile-high ash cloud into the sky and affecting Australian airspace

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano in south-central Indonesia has erupted, spewing towering columns of hot ash into the air and prompting authorities to both raise the alert to the highest level and expand the danger zone to 8km (5 miles) from the crater.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted on Tuesday and Wednesday, unleashing gigantic ash plumes and showering villages with volcanic debris.