DENPASAR: Indonesian and regional authorities heightened
flight warnings around Bali’s Mount Agung on Sunday as the volcano’s
eruptions sent a plume of volcanic ash and steam more than 6,000 metres
into the skies above the popular holiday island.
Ash
covered roads, cars and buildings near the volcano in the northeast of
the island, while scores of flights were cancelled and overnight a red
glow of what appeared to be magma could be seen in photographs by
Antara, the state news agency.
“The activity of Mount
Agung has entered the magmatic eruption phase. It is still spewing ash
at the moment but we need to monitor and be cautious over the
possibility of a strong, explosive eruption,” said Gede Suantika, an
official at the volcanology and geological disaster mitigation agency.
Bali,
famous for its surf, beaches and temples, attracted nearly 5 million
visitors last year but business has slumped in areas around the volcano
since September when Agung’s volcanic tremors began to increase.
Agung
rises majestically over eastern Bali at a height of just over 3,000
metres. When it last erupted in 1963 it killed more than 1,000 people
and razed several villages.
Australia’s Bureau of
Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VACC) in Darwin issued maps
showing an ash cloud heading southeast over the neighbouring island of
Lombok, away from Bali’s capital, Denpasar, where the main international
airport is located.
Indonesia also upgraded its Volcano
Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) to red, its highest warning, and
said the ash-cloud top could reach 19,654 feet (6,142 metres) or higher.
However, officials said the airport would remain open for now as the ash could be avoided.
“The volcanic ash has only been detected in a certain area,” the airport and other officials said in a joint statement.
All domestic flights and the airport itself were operating as “normal” and tests for ash had been negative, it said.
Yunus
Suprayogi, general manager of Bali airport operator Angkasa Pura I,
said food and entertainment would be provided as well as extra bus
services if conditions changed and passenger numbers increased.
The
airport would also “make it easier” for passengers to seek refunds and
make other arrangements, he said, while noting that airlines had their
own rules.
After resuming flights on Sunday morning,
Virgin Australia again cancelled flights on Sunday afternoon following a
change in the aviation colour code from orange to red.
“Due
to the significant volcanic ash and current weather conditions, we have
made the decision to cancel the rest of today’s flights to and from
Bali as a precautionary measure,” Virgin said in a statement on its
website.
AirAsia also cancelled its remaining flights to Bali and Lombok.
