Bali volcano eruption update: Where will the Mount Agung ash clouds go?
THE ash cloud from the erupting Mount Agung in Bali has grounded planes across the island, leaving thousands of tourists stranded. But where will the ash clouds go now?
The volcano alert in Bali has been raised to its maximum level and officials have extended a state of emergency on the island after Mount Agung started erupting last weekend.
Latest estimates from Indonesia’s Volcanic and Geological Disaster Management Agency (PVMBG) say the ash cloud is rising about 2,000 metres above Agung’s crater, with the plumes drifting southeast, east and northeast.
Maps from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Darwin show that ash will drift southeast as the day goes on, clipping the southwest of the neighbouring island of Lombok this afternoon and into tomorrow.
The Pacific Disaster Centre maps for yesterday showed the ash cloud moving over Lombok, heaping yet more misery onto stranded tourists.
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Lombok's international airport was forced to close due to dangerous levels of ash yesterday but reopened today after ash levels fell.
The ash cloud is now forecast to move in the other direction towards Bali’s international airport which reopened on Wednesday afternoon local time.
In Bali, Australian airline Jetstar has cancelled a number of flights off the island this evening due to a “sudden change in today’s forecast”.
Jetstar’s Mark Del Pra said: “Today the Quantas Group had planned to operate 18 scheduled and relief flights back to Australia.
VAAC
Mount Agung latest pictures: Volcano eruption begins
Thu, November 30, 2017Indonesian authorities raised the state of alert to its highest level for the volcano, Mount Agung, after thick ash started shooting thousands of meters into the air with increasing intensity
A plume of smoke above Mount Agung volcano is illuminated at sunset as seen from Amed, Karangasem Regency, Bali
“Unfortunately weather conditions have changed unexpectedly and the ash cloud is now forecast to move close to Bali Airport.
The ash cloud is now forecast to move close to Bali Airport
“Our senior pilots have assessed the situation and determined that it’s not safe to operate this evening. As a result, we have cancelled these flights.”
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson for Bali’s National Agency for Disaster Management, said the ash had been impacted by the Cempaka tropical cyclone, which killed at least 19 people when it passed south of Indonesia this week.
Volcanic ash has blanketed villages in the vicinity of Mount Agung since it erupted for the second time on Saturday (November 25).
PDC
GOOGLE
Pictures coming off the island show ash covering Sibetan village in Bali’s Karangasem regency and there have been reports of ash sightings as far south as Denpasar.
Emile Jansons, from the VAAC in Darwin, told reporters: “We’ve had some ground reports from observers in Denpasar and they’re seeing a light dusting of ash on things like car windscreens, also on the wings of some of the planes that were parked at Denpasar Airport.”
Volcanic ash is comprised of jagged pieces of rock and glass and overexposure can be extremely dangerous to humans when face-masks are not worn.
Teams of volunteers are working tirelessly in Bali to hand out thousands of masks to locals and refugees.
REUTERS
Officials have caled for the evacuation of about 100,000 people.
Authorities believe that so far about 48,670 people ali residents have been evacuated from the homes inside Agung’s danger zone, which stretches up to 10km around the volcano.
Despite the looming threat of a more violent eruption, thousands of residents are refusing to leave their homes and livelihoods behind.
Officials still hope to evacuate some 100,000 people in total.
Read more: BALI VOLCANO ERUPTION LIVE UPDATES
