Indonesia's Soputan volcano erupts, ejecting thick ash

A volcano in central Indonesia has erupted, ejecting columns of thick ash as high as 7,500 metres into the sky.

Mount Soputan, located on the northern part of Sulawesi island, erupted twice Sunday morning, according to the national disaster agency's spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

He said in anticipation of hot ash and lava sliding down the slope of the volcano, local residents have been urged to avoid activities near the volcano.

Soputan is one of Indonesia's more than 120 active volcanoes.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 260 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire.