Iran Press/ Asia: Indonesia's Mount Semeru spewed more ash on Monday, forcing rescuers to suspend the search for survivors as aerial images showed the extent of the devastation unleashed by the volcano's deadly weekend eruption.
People living near the volcano were earlier on Monday warned to remain vigilant after the eruption, as heavy wind and rain brought search-and-rescue efforts to a halt.
Aerial footage of the affected areas showed roofs jutting out of an ashen landscape. At the same time, on the ground, military officers, police, and residents dug through the mud with their hands to extricate victims.
According to Reuters, the death toll rose to 15 by Monday, while 27 people remain missing, Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency said in a statement.
Semeru is one of more than 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which straddles the Pacific "ring of fire," an area of high seismic activity that rests atop multiple tectonic plates.
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