The Volcano is in JAVA, 85km from the city of Surabaja. The nearest populated places are Kandangan (20km), Wonoredjo (15km), Djombok (13km), Pudjon (19km), Djengkol (19km), Wates (20km), Tulungredjo (7km), Bambingan (5km). Cool Portal

It is a mountainous region with a maximum altitude of 3631 m.

More than 100,000 people within 100km and significant eruption is occurring or explosive eruption is expected at any time (alert level 5).Alert levels are taken from the South West Volcano Research Centre.

MOUNT KELUD, Indonesia (AP) — Hundreds of villagers defied warnings of a major eruption at one of Indonesia’s deadliest volcanoes, leaving refugee centers Wednesday and returning to homes along its slopes to tend to crops and animals.

Indonesian officials monitor the activity of Mount Kelud, background, near the town of Blitar, East Java.

Mount Kelud, which has been showing signs of increased activity for several weeks, was placed on the highest alert level late Tuesday, meaning scientists believe an eruption may be imminent.

The 5,679-foot volcano last erupted in 1990, killing dozens. In 1919, a powerful explosion destroyed a hundred villages and claimed 5,160 lives.

Local authorities began mandatory evacuations of around 30,000 people living within six miles of the peak late Tuesday, mostly women, children and the elderly. Many men refused to leave, according to an Associated Press reporter on the mountain.

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of people left temporary evacuation camps in rented trucks and returned to their villages, complaining they had received no food and saying they must tend crops.

“There was no food at all,” said Darmiashiah, a 33-year-old woman who returned to the village of Sugihwaras, well within in the evacuation zone. “If I get told to leave again, I will not go,” said Darmiashiah, who goes by a single name.

Unlike some volcanoes, Mount Kelud does not smoke or rumble.

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