Everything About the Mount Agung Eruption That Caused Flights in Bali to Be Cancelled

Last Updated on 2020-01-13 , 11:30 am

If this sounds familiar, it probably is.

That’s because this is the volcano that caused erupted five times in late 2017, causing a shutdown in air traffic and also rendering thousands of people homeless. It then also caused a decline in tourism in Bali by about 30%.

Just so you know, since then, the active volcano has been erupting regularly (a total of eight times after the November 2017 eruptions), but most of them didn’t result in the shutdown of air traffic.

Until this morning.

Mount Agung Eruption Latest Eruption

Last night (24 May 2019) at 7:23 p.m., Mount Agung erupted for four minutes and thirty seconds, spewing lava in all directions to a range of up to three kilometres.

The head of the Bali Provincial Disaster Management Agency then confirmed the eruption, adding, “The height of the ash column was not reported; however, there was a roaring noise at the observation post.”

He then told people around the area to put on masks should they leave the house, and to follow instructions from officials, adding, “Increase preparedness. If there is a larger eruption, people must evacuate in an orderly manner, according to the agreed evacuation plan. Don’t panic, keep calm, and let’s pray that we are all protected by Hyang Widhi (God).”

Flights to and from Bali Cancelled or Diverted

If you’ve a flight to Bali, or are leaving Bali today, you might want to contact your airline.

Flights in Bali’s international airport has been cancelled or diverted. There has been no update on when flights would resume.

Indonesia’s director general of air transport Polana Pramesti said, “We will continue to monitor the current condition of Mount Agung eruption.”

Which means wait and see lah.

Some airlines are offering refunds or allowing passengers to depart at another date.

Eruption Still Not That Serious

Although flights have been cancelled, it stays at the Level III (Standby) status, which means it’s “exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption” or “an eruption is underway but poses limited hazards with no or minor volcanic-ash emissions.”

Is it safe to go Bali then? Or areas around Bali?

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to within four kilometres of the Mount Agung crater in east Bali after the eruption.

However, other parts of Bali are still safe.

Though the problem isn’t about the safety but the lack of airlines going there now lah.