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Rescue workers in Indonesia continue to dig through thick layers of hot ash and debris to find survivors of a volcanic eruption that left more than a dozen people dead and thousands displaced in the country's East Java province, even as the volcano continues to erupt ash.

Mount Semeru, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, erupted Saturday, shooting smouldering hot ash and volcanic gas into the air that turned the sky dark over villages in East Java's Lumajang district.

At least 15 people have died and 27 others are missing, according to the Command Post for Emergency Response of Mount Semeru.

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More than 1700 people had been evacuated across 19 makeshift centres, the group said in a statement.

Nearly 3000 houses and 38 schools have been damaged by the debris, the statement said.

The eruption also destroyed a bridge that connects Lumajang with the neighbouring Malang district, blocking access from the main road and hampering rescue efforts, it added.

Maulana Ardiansyah, a volunteer from Baznas Search and Rescue team, told CNN the group found three bodies — one man, one woman, and one child — submerged in cold lava in Kampung Renteng village yesterday morning.

The evacuees included hundreds of villagers who lived near a dam that burst due to cold lava and heavy rain, Operational Chief of Search and Rescue I Wayan Suyatna told CNN.

He added the search operation was forced to stop twice due to pyroclastic clouds — a mix of ash, rock and volcanic gases that can be much more dangerous than lava.

"Hot volcanic cloud is dangerous for the team safety," Mr Suyatna said.

"The weather here is also really bad. (It is) dark and rainy."

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Video shared on Monday by Indonesia's National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) shows debris-filled mud stretching for miles around the volcano. Villages are completely abandoned and vehicles remain submerged under the sludge, while thousands of trees are covered in a sheet of ashy dust.

Local resident Hosniya, 31, told Reuters the eruption caught her by surprise.

"At first, I thought it was a bomb explosion … suddenly it was all dark, like it was going to destroy the earth," she said.

Hosniya was evacuated with her family, but they were unable to take anything with them but their official papers, Reuters reported.

In the village of Sumberwuluh, where 16 houses were buried under ash, residents raced to evacuate their livestock on trucks Sunday.

Roofs of several of the village's houses had caved in, leaving bricks and metal rods exposed.

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Aftershocks from the eruption were also felt among some residents of Kobokan and Kanjar villages late Sunday.

They were later evacuated to a shelter in a nearby district.

The Indonesian government said it was preparing a relocation process for villagers who lost their home in the eruption.

The BNPB said it will provide them with financial aid before the government can relocate them.

Indonesia sits between two continental plates on what is known as the Ring of Fire, a band around the basin of the Pacific Ocean that leads to high levels of tectonic and volcanic activity.

In January, Mount Merapi on Java Island erupted, shooting up a cloud of ash that led authorities to warn of the risk of lava reaching roads.

The volcano violently erupted in 2010, killing more than 350 people.

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Experts warn run-ins with venomous snakes and spiders will continue to rise after recent wild weather and Australia's ongoing mouse plague.

Millions of mice have created havoc for Aussie farmers across New South Wales, South Queensland, Northern Victoria and South Australia over the last year.

The nation has also recorded its wettest November on record, with the humid conditions and rodent plague creating a perfect storm for a boom in snake and spider numbers.

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Snakes prey on mice and have attracted a significant number to the communities impacted by the plague.

Wet weather is also the perfect climate to encourage movement of bugs and frogs – another drawcard for a hungry snake or spider.

People in NSW have been identified as the most likely to be bitten by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

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Genevieve Adamo is a senior poisons specialist at the Poisons Information Centre.

She said snake season usually peaks in late December and January, but there has already been an increase in bite reports since this time last year.

"We have some of the most venomous critters in the world, from the brown snake to the funnel-web spider," Ms Adamo said.

"While bites from these types of creatures are rare, it's important to know what to do and act quickly, as it could just save your life or the life of a friend or loved one."

What to do if someone is bitten by a snake?

NSW Health warns even if you just suspect a loved one has suffered a snake bite, it is essential you act immediately.

"If someone has collapsed following a snake bite start CPR immediately, this can be lifesaving," NSW Health warned.

"If someone is bitten you should keep them still, call an ambulance and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage."

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Symptoms from a venomous bite can include nausea, vomiting and a headache, however, first aid should be applied regardless of whether these symptoms are present, NSW Health advises.

What should you do if someone is bitten by a spider?

While most spider bites are harmless, if someone is bitten by a big black spider or funnel-web, this is a medical emergency.

NSW Health warns a bite from a funnel-web can cause severe pain, sweating, vomiting, difficulty breathing and muscle twitching.

A redback spider bite may result in pain and redness, but it is not considered life threatening so does not require bandaging.

"The most important thing to know in a situation like this is how to perform the correct first aid. This can make a significant difference to treatment and outcomes," Ms Adamo said.