Evacuations from Bali top 50,000 as eruption looms
MORE than 57,000 people have fled the surrounds of Mount Agung volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali, fearing an imminent eruption, officials said yesterday.
An increasing frequency of tremors from the volcano indicates magma is continuing to move toward the surface and an eruption is possible, said National Disaster Mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He said more than 560 volcanic earthquakes were recorded on Monday, most of them shallow.
The alert status of Agung was raised to the highest level on Friday following a dramatic increase in seismic activity. It last erupted in 1963, killing about 1100 people.
Another disaster agency official, Waskita Sutadewa in Bali, said people have scattered to all corners of the island and some have crossed to the neighbouring island of Lombok. The evacuees are living in temporary shelters, sports centres, village halls and with relatives or friends.
Some return to the danger zone, which extends up to 12km from the crater, during the day to tend to livestock.
Officials have said there’s no immediate threat to tourists, but some are already cutting short their stays in Bali.
A significant eruption would force the closure of Bali’s international airport, stranding thousands.