Mount Agung volcano in Indonesia caused resulting eruption - LNBN 24

Mount Agung volcano in Indonesia caused resulting eruption.

Mount Agung or Gunung Agung is a volcano in Bali in Indonesia, located south east of Mt Batur volcano, also in Bali. Gunung Agung stratovolcano is the highest point on Bali.

The volcano Agaw erupted on Saturday night. It led to serious consequences such as: Local authorities had to expand the evacuation area up to 7.5 km, and it also made more than 2,000 visitors stranded at Bali International Airport.

Previously in 1963-1964, Gunung Agung erupted causing the greatest devastation in Indonesian history. It still works with a large crater and very occasionally attracts smoke and ash.

In September 2017, an increase of rumbling and seismic activity around the volcano raised the alert level to the highest level and about 122,500 people were evacuated from their houses around the volcano. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority declared a 12-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano on September 24.

The area experienced 844 volcanic earthquakes on September 25, and 300 to 400 earthquakes by midday on September 26. Seismologists have been alarmed at the force and frequency of the incidents as it has taken much less for similar volcanos to erupt.

In late October 2017, the activity of the volcano decreased significantly, leading to lowering of the highest status of emergency on October 29. But in this Saturday 25 November 2017 and after, Indonesia had to expand the evacuation area up to 7.5 km.

The resulting eruption plume was reported to rise about 1.5 - 4 km above the summit crater, drifting towards the south and dusting the surroundings with thin layer of dark ash. The official danger level remains at 3, with inhabitants advised to stay 7.5 km away from the crater.

Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport and Lombok's Bandana Airport is closed. Australian airline Jetstar cancelled nine international flights on Saturday evening.