Indonesia extends closure of Bali airport as volcanic eruption continues

Evacuations are continuing on the resort island of Bali. Indonesia raised the alert level for an erupting Mount Agung to its highest level as smoke and ash pour from the volcano. Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people.

At least 22 villages are in Mount Agung’s danger zone, which extends up to 10 kilometers from the volcano’s crater.

The national disaster mitigation agency said magma flows are a possibility, and there is a chance of a bigger eruption, though it will likely not be as big as the last in 1963. Molten rock from that explosion reached as far as 20 kilometers from the mountain. This time, predictions place the range closer to five kilometers.

Indonesia's transportation ministry said on Tuesday it will extend the closure of Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport for a further 24 hours because of ash from the eruption.

A report from local aviation navigation authorities showed that "aircraft flight channels are covered with volcanic ash," the ministry said in a statement.

The closure is due to end at 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday. A separate notice showed Lombok airport had been reopened, after an earlier closure overnight due to the eruption.

The main tourist areas outside of the danger zone’s 10-kilometer radius are considered safe, but travelers are concerned they won’t be able to leave Bali and return to their homes.

Authorities are working with local communities and visitors to make sure they are prepared if the mountain erupts further.

(CGTN&AFP)