The death toll from the Mount Semeru volcano eruption in Indonesia increased to 34 on Tuesday, the national disaster agency reported, as relief was sent to the damaged region.
On Saturday, a volcano on the Indonesian island of Java erupted, ejecting volcanic ash into the sky and showering boiling mud on towns as hundreds of scared residents fled their homes.
The tragedy engulfed entire homes and vehicles, blanketing towns like Curah Kobokan in grey ash and causing inhabitants to fear going home.
"I'm traumatized; when I asked my relatives if they were brave enough to return to Curah Kobokan, they all said no, preferring to sleep under a tree," said Marzuki Suganda, 30, a 30-year-old who works at a nearby sand mine.
"When the eruption occurred, I truly believed I was going to perish here."
Since the catastrophic weekend eruption, rescuers have faced challenging conditions, searching for survivors and bodies among the volcanic rubble, ruined buildings, and destroyed vehicles.
On Tuesday, search personnel sent dogs to assist with the effort.
"According to the latest information from the ground... 34 people have died and 17 remain missing," disaster agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said.
Nearly 3,700 people had been evacuated from the region, he added.
Perilous rescue mission
Mount Semeru has been active since Saturday, putting emergency personnel and inhabitants of the surrounding area on edge.
Authorities said that Tuesday saw three minor eruptions, each blasting ash almost a kilometer into the sky.
The volcanic debris's fragility complicated rescuers' efforts.
"What we fear is that the ground will be cold on the outside but still be hot on the inside," police officer Imam Mukson Rido explained. "If it's too hot inside, we must flee."
Residents have been urged not to travel within five kilometers of Semeru's crater, as the air is highly toxic and may impact susceptible groups.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said that the administration would consider relocating residents due to the volcano's threat during a visit to the area.
"I'm hoping that once things settle down, we can begin repairing infrastructure and considering the possibility of relocating from areas deemed dangerous," he told Indonesia's Metro TV.
"Earlier today, I received information that approximately 2,000 houses must be relocated."
Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high volcanic and seismic activity caused by the collision of continental plates, and the country is home to roughly 130 active volcanoes.
