Bali volcano calms but alert remains high

Bali's volcano's alert remains at the highest level but authorities say the island is safe except for the 10-kilometre exclusion zone.

Mount Agung

Bali's Mount Agung volcano is calm and and flights from the tourist island are returning to normal. (AAP)

The Mount Agung volcano on Indonesia's resort island of Bali is calm, emitting only a thin column of sulphuric steam, the disaster management agency says.

"There has been no eruption," said national disaster management agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho.

The volcano's alert remains at the highest level but Bali is safe except for the 10-kilometre exclusion zone, he said.

Bali's international airport is operating normally, the state-run airport operator Angkasa Pura said.

The airport had been closed for two-and-a-half days last week because of fears that ash from the volcano could threaten flight safety, stranding holidaymakers including thousands of Australians.

Australian budget carrier Jetstar Airways said it had resumed scheduled services to and from Bali on Monday, "with flying conditions around Denpasar Airport expected to remain clear for the next 24 hours."

The country's volcanology agency warned over the weekend that there was still a large amount of pressure inside the volcano despite no eruption occurring.

Authorities raised the warning alert to the highest level on November 27 and ordered the evacuation of nearly 100,000 people after the volcano erupted for two consecutive days.

Nearly 60,000 people have sought refuge in temporary shelters, officials said.

The 3,031-metre Mount Agung last erupted for a period of almost a year in 1963 and 1964, leaving about 1,200 people dead.

Indonesia sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for seismic upheavals and volcanic eruptions.

The country is home to 127 active volcanoes.


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Bali volcano calms but alert remains high | SBS News