A VOLCANO has erupted in central Indonesia, spewing lava and smoke thousands of feet into the air and sending residents in the area fleeing, a disaster official said today.

There were no immediate reports of causalities.

Brian Rulrone said the first blast at 10.46pm local time sent thousands of people living along the slopes of Mount Lokon fleeing.

It was followed by a second eruption just after midnight.

The mountain in north Sulawesi province is one of about 129 active volcanos in Indonesia.

Its last major eruption in 1991 killed a Swiss hiker and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.