Flights cancelled as Bali volcano spews smoke

DENPASAR, Indonesia: A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of and steam thousands of meters into the air on Sunday for the third day in a week, triggering flight cancellations which have left thousands of tourists stranded,

Mount Agung spewed smoke and ash as high as 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) Sunday morning, causing at to be delayed or cancelled, said a

Indonesia’s volcanology center has put out a red alert warning airlines of a possible eruption, Rai airport was still open.

The decision to delay or di airlines, said airport spokesman Arie Ahsanurrohim.

“We try to make the airport as comfortable as possible for the passengers affected. So far we have provided special rooms for them to unpack their luggage and video entertainment so they can relax a bit,” Ahsanurrohim told Agence France-Presse.

At least 2,000 passengers are mostly tourists from Australia.

“I am meant to be at work tomorrow. How am I going to pay my bills?” said Sydney-based tourist Jake Vidler.

Several domestic flights have also been cancelled such as to the nearby island of Lombok, also a popular tourist destination east of Agung’s ash in that direction.

“I’ve received a refund from

A boy takes pictures during Mount Agung’s eruption seen from Kubu subdistrict in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Sunday. Mount Agung belched smoke as high as 1,500 meters above its summit, sparking an exodus from settlements near the mountain. my airline. Now I’m trying to go to Lombok by boat, hopefully the harbor is open,” said Ismono, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing nearly 1,600 people.

It rumbled back to life in September and authorities raise the alert to the highest level, forcing 140,000 people living nearby to evacuate.

The volcano’s activity decreased in late October and many people returned to their home as the alert was lowered to the second-highest level.

again last Tuesday, forcing 25,000 people to seek shelter. Authorities urged people living within 7.5 kilometers (4.5 miles) of the mountain to evacuate.

The mountain spewed smoke and ash on Saturday for the second time in a week in what volcanologists call a phreatic eruption - one which is caused by the heating and expansion of groundwater.

Authorities have decided not to raise the alert back to the highest level yet.

“This time the tremors and quakes caused by the volcano’s activities are - ber,” said the head of Indonesia’s volcanology center Kasbani.

Mount Agung is one of more than 120 active volcanoes extending the length of Indonesia, which straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire.