Bali’s Mount Agung erupts again, but island is ‘safe’ and airport still operating normally

Bali’s Mount Agung erupted on Sunday, following an eruption on Saturday, but the eruptions have been minor, the island remains safe and the airport continues to operate normally, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Sebaran dan ketebalan abu vulkanik dan pasir halus dari erupsi Gunung Agung pada 24/12/2017 pukul 10.05 WITA. Hujan abu tipis di sisi timur laut Gunung Agung. Bandara Ngurah Rai tidak berdampak. Aman dan beroperasi normal. #BaliSAFE #BALI #BaliAman #BaliTetapAman #BaliOK pic.twitter.com/RtVt4foeF8

— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_BNPB) December 24, 2017

A column of volcanic ash, about 2,500 meters above Agung’s crater was seen during Sunday’s eruption, recorded at 10:05am. Winds took ash in a northeasterly direction, so in the opposite direction of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, which is located to the volcano’s southwest.

Lagi, Gunung Agung erupsi mengeluarkan asap dan abu vulkanik dengan tinggi kolom 2.000-2.500 meter pada 24/12/2017 pukul 10.05 WITA. Puncak kolom mendorong awan stratocumulus. Status Gunung Agung Awas. Bali aman. Bandara normal dan aman. #BaliSAFE #BaliAman #BALI pic.twitter.com/3fWl1a0L8y

— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_BNPB) December 24, 2017

Mount Agung’s volcanic activity remains high, so the country’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) is keeping the volcano alert status at the highest level, level IV (danger), where it’s been since Nov. 27.

“This alert status only applies to a radius of eight to 10 kilometers from the peak of Mount Agung, meaning that people are prohibited from doing any activities within a radius of eight to 10 kilometers from the crater. Outside that area, activities can run normally and it’s still safe,” BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Sunday, as quoted by Republika.

The eruptions on Saturday and Sunday have not had a destructive impact, says Nugroho, adding that there’s no reason to panic.

Meanwhile, the number of evacuees who have fled their homes from inside the exclusion zone is currently recorded at 71,065, who are spread out across 239 government-run evacuation centers, which are assisted by local businesses, NGOs volunteers, and local communities.