Indonesian soldiers have found 78 more bodies in the streets blanketed by ash as deep as 30 centimeters, killed in the latest Mount Merapi's major eruption, Press TV reported.
Going through destroyed homes and streets, more bodies were pulled out, raising the overall toll from the daily eruptions to 122, the Associated Press quoted the National Disaster Management Agency as saying on Saturday.
The eruptions late Thursday and early Friday were the most ferocious since the volcano started erupting in October 26, authorities said. The outburst is "the biggest in at least a century," said volcanologist Gede Swantika.
The village of Bronggang, located 15 kilometers from the fiery crater, has been worst hit in the eruption. It is situated on the edge of the area the Indonesian government announced as "danger zone."
Jakarta expanded the zone to a ring 20 kilometers from the peak. The latest eruption has put the ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta on alert.
Hundreds of people have been injured and are being treated at hospitals. Almost 170,000 people on the island of Java have fled their homes since Mount Merapi began to spew lava and ash.
Officials say the military is now preparing to deploy a brigade to handle the disaster.