Volcanic ash and hot lava suddenly started spewing out of the Mount Lokon in Tomohon in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province as the volcano erupted early this morning.

Indonesian government issued a warning four days ago that the sleepy volcano may erupt any time and asked the people to be ready to leave the area. Thousands of people started fleeing the area since this morning as they watched the hot lava and dangerous ash oozing out of the mountains.

Government officials said that the hot lava and volcanic ash rose as high as 5,000 feet into the skies in the north of Sulawesi Island.