"The Merapi death toll has reached 273 people. About 300,000 people are still living in temporary shelters," a disaster management official said, updating the previous toll of 259.

The official, who declined to be named, said rescuers had recovered more bodies from around the volcano, which is in central Java, resulting in the increased toll.

He said about 50,000 people have returned to their homes since Tuesday after the government's revision of danger zone on Sunday.

Merapi killed around 1,300 people in 1930 but experts say the current eruptions are its biggest convulsions since 1872.

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