Bali volcano eruption: Where is the Mount Agung danger zone?
GETTY Mount Agung has sent yet more ash cascading into the atmosphere today
An ash column rose 6,000 feet into the air above Mount Agung following an eruption earlier today. The eruption struck at 12.20pm local time (5.20am BST) and showered ash onto the volcano’s slopes. Bali’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho has warned in a series of tweets that “successive eruptions occurring potential it's still high”. The volcano has been experiencing its current active period since November when 844 earthquakes struck around Mount Agung.
The first eruption on June 28 belched a cloud of ash into the air, affecting air travel to and from the Indonesian island. Some 115 international and 203 domestic flights were cancelled when the ash was released into the air. Nearly 27,000 travellers were affected by the grounded planes at Bali International airport. However, the most recent eruption hasn’t impacted flights, with Mr Nugroho adding: “All airports are operating normally. The Standby Status. Don't be afraid to visit Bali. Bali is safe.”
Where is the danger zone around Mount Agung? Despite the eruptions being categorised as the mildest form of explosive eruption known as “strombolian” by Bali’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), lava has cascaded down the slopes of the volcano. Flowing lava has set fire to high lying forests on the mountain slopes, and has reached 2.1 miles away from the volcano’s crater. There have been no injuries from the volcano’s eruptions as yet, but a danger zone of 2.4 miles has been put in place around Mount Agung.
AFP/GETTY The eruptions have been categorised as Strombolian by the disaster agency
GETTY Lava has set fire to high forests on the mountainside
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises those on the island against travel within four kilometres of the crater. Magma Indonesia are constantly monitoring the volcano, and have said that the current danger zone could increase at any time with the changing activity at Mount Agung: “Estimated Zone Dangers are dynamic and continuously evaluated and can be changed at any time following the most recent Agung observation data.” An official from BNPB told Detik news site at least 2,731 residents had now left their homes.
The most striking pictures from Mount Agung's eruption Mon, July 2, 2018 Extraordinary pictures show Bali's Mount Agung erupting again. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 28 Mount Agung erupts as its lava incubation reaches 2000 meter distance, in Bali