Indonesia: Bali volcano eruption “imminent” Sep. 26 /update 3

Event

On Tuesday, September 26, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) warned that Mount Agung, an active volcano on the island of Bali, had entered a critical phase and that an imminent eruption was feared. Officials stressed it was not possible to predict when Mount Agung would erupt. More than 560 tremors were reported on Monday alone, along with signs of magma rising to the surface. More than 57,000 people have been evacuated as of Tuesday and are now living in shelters in nearby villages, located outside the danger zone.

Bali's main tourist areas of Kuta and Seminyak, located some 70 km (45 mi) from Mount Agung, remain unaffected for now. Flights at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) are operating as normal but a volcanic eruption could cause severe disruptions.

Context

On September 22, the BNPB raised the alert warning to the highest level and set up a 12-km (7.5-mi) exclusion zone around the crater of Mount Agung. A 200-m (656-ft) column of smoke was seen rising from the mountain on Sunday.

Mount Agung's last major eruption occurred in 1963 and resulted in the deaths of around 1500 people.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to monitor the situation and follow any instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. potential evacuation orders).