Bali flights cancelled as Indonesian volcano erupts
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, a volcano on Indonesia’s Flores island, has erupted, sending a column of ash up to 10 kilometres into the sky.
The ash plume drifted in multiple directions, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Authorities have advised residents, visitors and tourists to avoid all activities within a two-kilometre radius of the crater.
Additional exclusion zones include a three-kilometre sector to the north-north-east and a five-kilometre sector to the north-east.
Numerous flights from Australia to Bali have been cancelled today as a result of the eruption, including Jetstar flights departing from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as Virgin Australia flights from Brisbane and Melbourne.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will contact customers directly if there are any further changes to our schedule,” Jetstar said in a statement.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said that “guests travelling to and from Bali are encouraged to check the latest updates on their flight status via the Virgin Australia website or app”.
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At least 10 people were killed after the volcano erupted in November last year.
Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which rises to 1584 metres above sea level, is one of two volcanoes in the Lewotobi group. The group has a history of intermittent eruptions.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has more than 120 active volcanoes, making it one of the most volcanically active countries in the world.
– AAP with InDaily
