Indonesia Warns Of Large Eruption As Bali Volcanic Activity Worsens, Over 120,000 Tourists Stranded

The sprawling white-sand beaches in Indonesia’s Bali, the world's most popular resort island which attracts over five million tourists each year, are unusually empty as ash-laden skies have left hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers in limbo.

One of the island’s largest active volcano - Mount Agung - is spewing black ash more than two miles into the air. Civilian authorities and experts in Indonesia have warned that a large eruption is "imminent".

The volcanic activity, which has forced the authorities to close the island’s airport handling as many as 420 flights a day, has left over 120,000 tourists stranded. Airlines operating to Bali have waived cancellation fees for passengers booked on flights after the international airport of the Indonesian tourist hub remained shut for the second day in the wake of plumes of ash coming out from a rumbling volcano.

Ash erupting from the volcano has been pulled across the island by a tropical cyclone. It is expected to spread until the cyclone subsides in the next three days.

Scores of frightened people have fled their homes near Mount Agung with Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre upgrading the alert status to the highest level, fearing a major eruption. The local government has asked around 100,000 people to leave an area extending 10-kilometres from the zone of volcanic activity. Authorities are also planning to evacuate some 60,000 residents, who have not left the area despite repeated warnings, by force.

The 3000-metres high volcano located in the eastern part of the island last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,600 people and destroying several villages.

Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire - arc around the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur - has nearly 140 active volcanoes. (Volcanic activity in Indonesia can be seen on this live map.)

Although it is not possible to predict the exact time of the eruption, a government scientist in Indonesia has said that the current volcanic activity - emission of lava, ash, sulphur, and carbon dioxide - could continue for weeks.

A large number of Indians are among those stranded on the island. Jet Airways is among the major Indian carriers that offer flights to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport via its codeshare partners. The airline is allowing passengers to reschedule their flights apart from waiving the cancellation fee.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that she is monitoring the situation closely and that the Indian Mission there would provide assistance to Indians requiring help. The Indian Consulate in Bali has opened a help desk at the city airport to provide any assistance to the Indians stuck there.

With inputs from PTI