In this April 4, 2013 picture, lava spews from the top of Mount Karangetang, viewed from the village of Bebali on Sitaro island in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province. AN official says they are trying to evacuate nearly 600 residents as an eruption of Mount Karangetang sent lava and searing gas clouds out the crater. (STR / AFP)

JAKARTA — An eruption of one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes sent lava and searing gas clouds out the crater and made villagers leave the slopes, a volcanology official said Tuesday.

The Karangetang volcano is one of about 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Its last big eruption was in 2011, when four people were killed

Authorities were still trying to evacuate nearly 600 residents living along the slopes of Mount Karangetang, said Yudia Tatipang, head of the Karangetang volcano observation post. There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.

READ MORE: Hundreds killed as 'volcano tsunami' hits Indonesia

He said the 5,853-foot volcano located on Siau island of North Sulawesi province started spitting clouds of gas and lava on Sunday.

Late on Monday, hot ash tumbled down its slopes up to 980 feet, triggering panic among villagers as falling ash and sulfur blanketed several villages around its slopes.

Tatipang said that scientists kept the alert level of the volcano at the second-highest level but people should stay out of a 3-kilometer danger zone around the crater.

ALSO READ: Indonesia's Merapi volcano unleashes river of lava

The Karangetang volcano is one of about 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Its last big eruption was in 2011, killing four people.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin, and is prone to volcanic and seismic activity.