JAKARTA, Indonesia — A volcano in central Indonesia erupted today, shooting clouds of smoke and flames into the night sky.

Indonesia's volcanology center said Mount Soputan, roughly 1,350 miles (2,160 kilometers) northeast of capital Jakarta on Sulawesi island, billowed smoke plumes as high as 3,200 feet (one kilometer).

The nearest villages are five miles (eight kilometers) from the crater's mouth, well out of the danger zone, the agency said on its Web site. Although no evacuations were ordered, people were warned to stay at a safe distance because it might spew lava.

Indonesia, a tropical archipelago straddling a major fault line known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire," has more active volcanoes than any other nation. The 3,280-foot (1,780-meter) Mount Soputan has been one of the most active.