In East Java, Indonesia, 11 villages were covered in volcanic ash after Mount Semeru erupted. Houses in the villages were buried right up to the rooftop and many vehicles were completely submerged. The eruption, accompanied by thunderstorms and rain, pushed the lava and smoldering debris towards the villages and also formed a thick cloud of ash. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is prone to frequent volcanic and seismic activity.