Rescue workers are sifting through smoldering debris and thick mud in search of survivors a day after a volcano on Indonesia's remote island of Flores erupted with fury, killing at least nine people with its searing lava and ash.

An eruption of Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-laki stratovolcano rained debris and ash on villages on the island of Flores.

The Indonesian government aims to evacuate at least 16,000 residents from villages around the active Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano that erupted and killed nine people and damaged thousands of houses,