FLIGHTS TO AND FROM BALI CANCELLED AS VOLCANO SPEWS SMOKE, ASH
DENPASAR: A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sent plumes of smoke and steam thousands of metres into the air yesterday for the third day in a week, triggering flight cancellations that left thousands of stranded, officials said yesterday.
Mount Agung spewed smoke and ash as high as 4,000m yesterday morning, causing at least 28 departing or arriving flights to be delayed or cancelled, said a spokesman for Bali’s airport.
Indonesia’s volcanology centre put out a red alert warning airlines of a possible eruption, with a likely significant emission of ash into the atmosphere. But, as of yesterday afternoon, Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport was still open.
The decision to delay or divert flights was up to individual airlines, said airport spokesman Arie Ahsanurrohim.
At least 2,000 passengers were affected by the flight disruption.
Several domestic flights have also been cancelled, such as to the nearby island of Lombok, also a popular tourist destination east of Bali. The wind has blown Mount Agung’s ash in that direction.
Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing nearly 1,600 people.
It rumbled back to life in September, but activity decreased late last month. It rumbled again last Tuesday, forcing 25,000 people to seek shelter.
In Kuala Lumpur, low-cost carrier AirAsia yesterday cancelled 32 flights and rescheduled two others involving flights from and to Bali and Lombok.
Malaysia Airlines also cancelled all flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bali today. Agencies