Mount Merapi in Central Java, Indonesia, sent out hot volcanic ash again at 4:40 pm local time on Thursday, indicating it remains dangerous after a major eruption on Tuesday left at least 33 people dead and over 40,000 displaced.

"The trajectory of the volcanic material was short, namely 3.5 kilometers from the peak," said Subandriyo, head of the Volcanology Technology Development and Assessment (BPPTK).

He predicted it would be followed by emission of lava and urged people to remain alert.

Some of the victims died as they fled their house or after being admitted to hospital, said Trisno Heru Nugroho, spokesman of the DR Sardjito Hospital in Yogyakarta.

The hot ash left at least 14 others seriously injured, most of them suffer from severe burn in the face and hands, and are being treated in the hospital.

Their lungs also have problems as they breathed in the ash, a nurse at the hospital told Xinhua.

Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency said that 40,475 residents near the volcano have taken shelter at barracks, makeshift tents and relatives' houses.

The 2,968-meter-high volcano is located in densely populated Central Java and one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes.

Mount Merapi last erupted in 2006 killing two people, after an eruption in 1994 claimed 60 lives. A major eruption in 1930 killed more than 1,000 people.

Source: Xinhuanet