A volcano has erupted in the eastern part of Indonesia, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes while blanketing the sky with thick ash. 　　A nearby airport has been shutdown, following the disaster. No injuries have been reported. 　　Eastern Indonesia's Mount Gamalama volcano continues to spew ash into the sky. The nearly two-kilometre-high volcano began erupting late on Sunday, and although no casualties have been reported, authorities remain on high alert. 　 　　Volcanologist Darno Lamane: "Mount Gamalama is still erupting and spewing ash, and tremors are still happening although they are getting smaller, and the period between them is getting shorter. 　　The conditions are still fluctuating, the status remains on the second highest alert level." Authorities have grounded flights from the local airport. 　　Thousands of residents who live on the base of the volcano have fled to a former government building to take shelter. 　　Refugee Shelter Coordinator Hasyim Yusuf: "Refugees needing to eat and drink are well-accommodated and there is some help coming in." 　　Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", and is prone to natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. (Nick Rowlands/Reuters)