Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the danger zone to 8km from the crater.

Indonesia’s Geology Agency said in a statement it recorded the volcano unleashing 10,000m of thick grey clouds at 5.35 pm local time (8.35 pm AEST), following significant volcanic activities, including 50 in two hours, rather than the usual daily eight to 10 activities.

The ashes expanded into a mushroom-shaped ash cloud that could be seen from the cities located 90km to 150km from the mountain.

There were no casualties reported.

Residents were warned to be vigilant about heavy rainfall triggering lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano.

An eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in November killed nine people and injured dozens.

The 1584m mountain is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in the district of Flores Timur.

Indonesia is an archipelago of 270 million people with frequent seismic activity. It has 120 active volcanoes and sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.