Bali, famous for its surf, beaches and temples, attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year but business has slumped in areas around the volcano since September when Agung’s volcanic tremors began to increase. Indonesia raised its alert level for Bali’s Mount Agung volcano to the highest stage on Monday and told residents to immediately evacuate areas near the summit, warning of the “imminent” risk of a larger eruption. Bali’s airport has been closed as a result of the increased warning level.
Flights were diverted away from the island’s airport due to the warning and the presence of volcanic ash from the erupting Agung. According to the reports said in the statement that there were continuous smoke accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (seven miles) from the peak. Rays of fire were increasingly visible from night to the following day. This indicates the potential for a larger eruption. It warned residents in a 8-10 km (5-6 miles) radius around the volcano to evacuate immediately. Agung rises majestically over eastern Bali at a height of just over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). When it last erupted in 1963 it killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages.
