S. Aditya / Reuters

A villager runs as Mount Sinabung erupts at Sigarang-Garang village in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Feb. 1. The eruptions came just a day after authorities allowed thousands of villagers who had been evacuated to return to its slopes.

Reuters reports: Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung volcano erupted and killed at least 11 people on the western island of Sumatra on Saturday, the first time it is known to have claimed any lives, a senior government official said.

The volcano has becoming increasingly active in recent months, regularly spewing columns of ash several kilometers into the air. The government has evacuated tens of thousands of residents near the area.

“Eleven people were killed because of the eruption this morning and the number could increase. No evacuations could be made at this stage because of the potential for more eruptions,” Andi Arief, a presidential staff member, told Reuters.

Sutanta Aditya / AFP – Getty Images

Indonesian residents carry a victim on a motorcycle following the eruptions.

Sutanta Aditya / AFP – Getty Images

The body of a victim is covered with hot volcanic ash.