Terrified residents had to take shelter from severe showers of gravel and stones that lashed their homes during a volcanic eruption in Indonesia.

The freak onslaught unfolded on the west side of Tagulandang Island in Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi Province, on Wednesday evening April 18.

The island is about three miles from Mount Ruang volcano, which has been actively erupting for at least the last two days.

Heruningtyas, Chair of the Volcano Working Team, said: 'We coordinated with stakeholders at the location, and they reported that gravel rain had occurred on Tagulandang Island.'

Gravel and sand dropping from the sky damaged the roofs of residents' houses on Tagulandang Island. Residents tried to take shelter from the hail as it pounded the tin roofs of their homes, leaving large holes.

The Geological Agency in Indonesia, said Tyas, recommended that residents within a radius of four miles from the centre of the active crater of Mount Ruang be evacuated.

She added: 'Tagulandang District Hospital and also the prison there had to be evacuated because they were in the danger zone.'