Hanoi (VNA) – Around 20 flights to and from the resort island of Bali, Indonesia were cancelled on June 18 after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted one day earlier, spewing a column of ash up to 10 km into the sky, Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport announced on its website.
The volcanic eruption on June 17 afternoon forced authorities to raise its alert status to the highest level. Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre said that ash fell on surrounding areas, forcing the evacuation of at least one village, but fortunately there were no casualties or serious damage.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
Several domestic AirAsia flights leaving for Labuan Bajo on Flores were also canceled.
A Bali airport customer service agent said that Ngurah Rai is still operating normally. The flight cancel depends on the route and airlines.
In November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times, killing nine people, canceling scores of international flights to Bali and forcing thousands to evacuate.
At 1,703 metres high, Lewotobi Laki-Laki is one of twined volcanoes on the eastern tourist island of Flores. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire./.
