China on Tuesday announced the full reopening of its borders after three years of strict anti-Coronavirus measures.
The Foreign Ministry which made the announcement in Beijing, said “all types of visas for foreigners will be issued again” as from Wednesday.
China reopened its borders at the beginning of January primarily for business travellers and family visits.
Now tourists can also travel regularly to the country again, while visa-free entry to some regions is also restored.
Long-term visas issued before the border closure on March 28, 2020, can also be used again, according to the statement.
Mount Merapi, one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, ejected hot clouds of ash and gas as far as 2 kilometres down its slopes on Tuesday.
The eruption lasted for 160 seconds, sending hot volcanic debris travelling along the Krasak river.
This is according to the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, a government agency that monitors volcanic activity.
No casualties or damage were reported, but the agency warned residents and tourists to stay away from the danger zone within a radius of five kilometres from the peak.
Mount Merapi, which means “Fire Mountain’’ in Javanese, is located on the border of Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, about 400 kilometres southeast of Jakarta, the capital.
The volcano has been erupting intermittently since 2020, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
The last major eruption of Mount Merapi occurred in 2010 when it killed more than 350 people and displaced about 400,000 others.
(dpa/NAN)