Politics: Flights cancelled, tens of thousands evacuated after massive Bali volcano erupts

Mount Agung erupted on Saturday evening and three times early Sunday, sending ash 13,000 feet into the atmosphere, and created plumes as high as 3.7 miles.

• Bali's Denpasar Airport closed on Monday following a several eruptions by Mount Agung on the weekend.
• International flights were cancelled, affecting 59,000 passengers on 445 flights.
• As many as 100,000 locals needed to leave the expanded danger zone.
• The weekend's volcanic eruptions created plumes as high as 3.7 miles (6,000 metres).
• A spokesperson for Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said "things could get back to normal within a few weeks."

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An ash cloud forced Bali's Denpasar Airport to close on Monday.

International flights were cancelled following an eruption by Mount Agung on Saturday evening and a further three eruptions on Sunday.

59,000 passengers on 445 cancelled flights — including 196 international flights — have been affected, the airport said in a statement.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said Denpasar Airport is closed for 24 hours and authorities would consider reopening it Tuesday morning after evaluating the situation.

Ash has been confirmed on the ground at Denpasar Airport, according to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

The weekend's volcanic eruptions sent ash 13,000 feet (4,000 metres) into the atmosphere, and created plumes as high as 3.7 miles (6,000 metres), Reuters reported.

Indonesian authorities have raised the alert for Bali's volcano to highest level, ordering people within 10 kilometers to evacuate over fears of an "imminent" risk of a larger eruption.

A spokesperson for Indonesia's National Board for Disaster Management said the volcano warning status was raised from "standby" to "beware" at 6am local time on Monday after the volcano begun having magmatic eruptions rather than steam-based eruptions, according to Associated Press.

Jetstar had cancelled nine flights on Saturday following an earlier eruption, but resumed most of its flights on Sunday after its senior pilots assessed flights were safe.

Tens of thousands have been left stranded

Thousands of travelers have been left without flights and people have begun arriving at local evacuation centers.

The Indonesian government said on Twitter that it would offer free accommodation to stranded passengers who booked hotels through the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) while the Bali airport remains closed.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency also said that as many as 100,000 locals in 22 affected villages needed to leave the expanded danger zone around the Mount Agung volcano on Bali, but that less than half that number have left, Associated Press reported.

A spokesperson for Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said if current winds continue to push smoke away from affected areas "things could get back to normal within a few weeks."

Mount Agung’s alert status was raised to the highest possible level in September following increased tremors from the volcano.

Approximately 25,000 people have not returned home since September, when Mt Agung showed signs of activity for the first time in more than half a century.

Mt Agung's last major eruption killed about 1,100 people in 1963. A major eruption is not expected at this time.

Indonesia sits on the “Pacific Ring of Fire” along the Pacific Ocean, where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. Indonesia has more than 120 active volcanoes.

If you think your flight may be affected, check Virgin Australia's advisory here and Jetstar's advisory here.

Mount Agung erupted on Saturday evening and three times early Sunday, sending ash 13,000 feet into the atmosphere, and created plumes as high as 3.7 miles. Read Full Story