Volcano rumbles, but residents stay put

Indonesia remained on high alert for a possible eruption of a rumbling volcano in eastern Java, but many residents near Mt Kelud refused to leave their homes despite an order to evacuate.

The volcano, one of Indonesia's deadliest, is 90km southwest of its second-largest city, Surabaya. The alert was raised to maximum on Wednesday, on the belief it could erupt within 24 hours. Authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 100,000 people from a 10km zone near the 1731m volcano.

Many locals refused to go, complaining about poor food and shelter provided in safer zones.