• Death toll reaches 122 as authorities extend danger zone
• 'There was an explosion that sounded like it was from a war... and it got worse, the ash and debris raining down.'

Horror scenes greeted rescuers arriving at villages near Mount Merapi after the Indonesian volcano's worst eruption in a century last night sent the death toll soaring to 122.

Searing gas avalanched down the mountainside with a thundrous roar, torching houses and trees and incinerating villagers as they fled.

The injured - with clothes, blankets and even mattresses fused to their skin by temperatures reaching 750C - were carried away on stretchers following the first big explosion just before midnight. [ DAILYMAIL UK ]