Eruptions on Bali's Mount Agung continue as airport operations remain normal
Mount Agung, a volcano located in Bali, Indonesia, erupted on Monday, sending a thick cloud of ash high into the atmosphere and lava flowing from its crater.
The eruption began at 9 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EDT) and lasted for about seven minutes.
While locals have described the eruption as sending "flares of incandescent lava" flowing from the crater and thick plumes of ash 6,500 feet (nearly 2 kilometers) into the sky, no injuries or damage have been reported.
Another eruption occurred on Tuesday, sending a fresh column of ash into the sky. The eruption lasted for just under two minutes.
Mount Agung's crater glows red from the lava as it spews volcanic smoke In Karangasem, Bali Island, Indonesia, Friday, June 29, 2018. The Indonesian tourist island of Bali closed its international airport Friday, stranding thousands of travelers, as the Mount Agung volcano gushed a 2,500-meter (8,200-feet) column of ash and smoke. (AP Photo)
Bali’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho warned that the threat of successive eruptions occurring is still high, but also that all airports are operating normally and that Bali is a safe destination for tourists to visit.
As of Tuesday, 2,731 residents had evacuated the immediate area around the volcano's summit. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continues to advise people against travel within four kilometers of the crater.
Last week, the 9,800-foot volcano erupted, emitting enormous amounts of thick ash into the atmosphere. As a result, the Bali airport was forced to cancel hundreds of domestic and international flights, affecting nearly 27,000 travelers.
"We're monitoring the eruption. The airport could be closed again if the eruption affects flight safety," a spokesman for airport operator Angkasa Pura said, according to Express.
As of Tuesday, the ash cloud was drifting westward, allowing the airport to the south to operate normally.
The evacuation radius set during last week's eruption remains 2.5 miles (7 km) around the crater.
The Geological Agency of Indonesia continues to warn tourists and residents, especially those who live near rivers, to be aware of the threat of fast-moving lava and debris flows, particularly during and after periods of heavy rain.
While a few showers are possible each day this week, widespread soaking rainfall is not expected to impact the island.
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