Villagers in Karo, Indonesia, ride a motorbike as Mount Sinabung spews volcanic smoke on Sunday. (Binsar Bakkara/Associated Press)

About 10,000 people have fled their homes in western Indonesia, where a volcano has erupted for the first time in 400 years.

The eruption started Saturday night on Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province. Smoke and ash shot into the air, and lava could be seen pouring down the mountain.

One man says he ran for his life when he saw the lava coming towards him.

Local officials say there's no major damage and the eruption has mostly stopped.

The government distributed 7,000 masks to refugees and set up public kitchens so people can cook food, said Priyadi Kardono, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.

Mount Sinabung is part of the Pacific ocean's "Ring of Fire," which has more than 100 active volcanoes.

An alert will remain in force for at least a week in the area. Even though volcanic activity has decreased, experts say Mount Sinabung remains unpredictable.