Eruption Risk of Mount Kelud Downgraded

Indonesia (Reuters) - Authorities have lowered the alert level on Indonesia's steaming Mount Kelud volcano because of a decline in its activity and advised people to return to their homes, a government official said on Thursday.

Indonesia's volcanology centre had raised the alert status of the deadly volcano on the densely populated Java island to the highest level about two weeks ago and asked people living on or near its slopes to evacuate as an eruption appeared imminent.

"The alert is downgraded to the second highest due to less intense activity," said Umar Rosadi, a volcanology centre official monitoring Kelud.