JAKARTA -- Eight people were killed and three others injured after being hit by hot ash spewed by Mount Sinabung volcano in North Sumatra, Indonesia, on Saturday, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the national disaster agency, told Xinhua via phone.

Powerful burst of hot ash and volcanic material from the crater of Mount Sinabung volcano was seen again on Saturday, a day after nearly 14,000 evacuees returned home.

The 2,475-meter-high Mount Sinabung erupted three times during the day, spewing columns of ash about 2 km into the air and spreading hot rocks and ash over a 4.5 km radius, said the spokesman.

The volcano has rumbled to life since September last year after remaining quiet for 400 years. It has erupted on and off since then, but was geared up in November and December.

Villagers run on ash during the eruption of Mount Sinabung volcano near Gamber village in Karo district, in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, January 21, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]