General view of Mount Agung during an eruption seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency, on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on November 26.
The volcanic eruption of Mount Agung in Bali, Indonesia, has led to the country issuing its highest-level aviation warning for flights in the area. Thousands residents in the surrounding areas have been ordered to evacuate as pulverized rock continues to blow out of the crater. Officials said that magma has now reached its surface.
Several airlines have cancelled flights around Bali, with almost 5,000 travelers having to find an alternate route, ABC News reported. The aviation notice in the area was raised from orange to red following the eruptions, prompting the temporary closure of Lombok International Airport.
The location of the volcano eruption in Bali, Indonesia is noted with an orange circle.
The volcano in eastern Bali erupted three times Saturday, and is expected to continue doing so. The first eruption came around 4:30 Eastern (5:30 p.m. local time), with additional eruptions occurring. The blasts have caused ash to fly more than 2,000 meters into the air, the National Disaster Management Agency in Indonesia reported, with ash plume reaching an altitude of 7,600 meters by late Saturday.
Evacuation zones, reaching up to 7.5 kilometers from the crater, have been put into place, and about 24,000 residents have been forced to temporary shelters. There aren’t plans to issue new evacuation orders, per ABC News. A Level 3 alert has been issued by the National Agency for Disaster Management, with officials recommending no public activities taking place within 6-7.5 kilometers — 3.5 to 4.5 miles.
Here are some photos and videos of the volcanic eruption:
INSIGHT: Bali volcano activity prompts ‘red warning’ t.co/ItrIeNQeux
GettyBalinese Hindus take part in a ceremony, where they pray near Mount Agung in hope of preventing a volcanic eruption, in Muntig village of the Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on November 26.
A boy takes pictures during Mount Agung’s eruption seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on November 26.
GettyBalinese people look at Mount Agung during an eruption seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on November 26.