Indonesia lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity.
The volcano’s alert was raised to the highest level earlier Monday and ash clouds have forced the closure of Bali’s international airport.
Bali’s airport has been closed as a result of the increased warning level, according to Agoes Soebagio, an official at the Transportation Ministry.
Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency says as many as 100,000 villagers need to leave the expanded danger zone around the Mount Agung volcano on Bali.
According to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in nearby Darwin, Australia, there is “ash confirmed on the ground at Denpasar Airport” as well as ash at FL300 (which refers to flight level at 30,000 feet, or 9.14 kilometres) in the vicinity of the volcano.
Ash from Mount Agung has been covering villages nearby the volcano. Officials have distributed thousands of face masks to local residents.
The airport in Bali’s capital Denpasar, a top holiday destination that attracts millions of foreign tourists every year, has been closed.
