Indonesian volcano spews massive ash and gas cloud

Towering clouds of hot ash gushed from the mouth of Indonesia's deadly volcano Thursday, hours after its most explosive eruption in a deadly week sent screaming women and children fleeing mountainside villages and emergency shelters.

"It looks like we may be entering an even worse stage," said Surono, a state volcanologist, who'd earlier said continual eruptions since October 26 appeared to be easing pressure behind Mount Merapi's magma dome near the tip of the crater. "We have no idea what's happening now." (AP)