A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted since Friday, spewing hot lava and ash, and forcing over 300 people to flee their homes, official said in Jakarta on Sunday.

Mount Karangetan on Siau island off Sulawesi island has erupted continuously.?Authorities raised the warning status to top alert on Friday, said Surono, head of the National Volcanology Agency.

The agency warned residents to avoid entering the 4 km radius around the mountain, said Surono.

The eruption had forced those living on the slope of the mountain to escape and take refuge in makeshift tents, Eka Saputra, an official at the National Disaster Management Agency said.

"At present the total evacuees have reached 380 people," Saputra told Xinhua by phone.

Mount Karangetan is one of over 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Four people were killed in the volcano's eruption last year.