Bali’s Mt Agung Volcano Continues Heating Up

Mass Evacuation: 140,000 people flee Bali town of Amed turning it into a ghost town

Mt Agung Volcano continues to exhale a large column of steam, smoke and ash, while ominously eying the town of Amed.

The normally bustling tourist town, located about 4km outside Mt Agung volcano’s exclusion zone, has been experiencing  more than 1,000 tremors per day, prompting residents and tourists to abandon the town.

More than 100,000 others are expected to abandon nearby villages as fears of an “imminent eruption” mount.

Authorities has set up about 500 temporary shelters outside the exclusion zone around the volcano, said the National Disaster Management Agency.

However, the shelters may prove unsafe, if a large, explosive eruption occurs.

Vanuatu Volcano: State of Emergency Declared

Meanwhile, most of 11,000 residents in Vanuatu’s Ambae island have abandoned the volcanic island under evacuation orders, as the Manaro Voui volcano continues emitting ash, smoke and volcanic gases, stoking fears of an imminent eruption.

Vanuatu: State of emergency on Ambae island; Monaro #Volcano on Alert Level 4. Paama & Abrym Islands also on alert. https://t.co/UzZFJPAltO

— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) September 28, 2017

250,000 People Fleeing ‘Imminent’ Bali Volcano Explosion

Bali Volcano Threatens to Blow

Up to million people are urged to evacuate Mt Agung precinct on the island of Bali, eastern Indonesia, as the restive volcano threatens to explode imminently.

Authorities raised the warning to the maximum level “four” on Friday night, indicating  a dangerous eruption was imminent within hours.

Up to 2,000 tremors have been shaking the massive volcano since Wednesday, increasing the probability of an explosive eruption.

SRBI seismic station, tectonic eq by vulcanic activities of Mt. Agung, Bali. Hybrid? @IRIS_EPO pic.twitter.com/PQXBudvFsJ

— Wendy Sukmajaya 🤪 (@wendysukmajaya) September 22, 2017

The volcano last erupted (VEI 5) in 1963-1964, sending about 1.8 cubic meter of volcanic material 10km into the air, and killing at least 1,100 people. Mt Agung [aka, Gunung Agung] is one of Indonesia’s 132 active volcanoes.

FIRE-EARTH Ref: PDN3, RJV3

Thousands Evacuated in Bali amid Continued Unrest at Mt Agung

Mt Agung threatens to explode

The volcano is ejecting white smoke and ash to a height of more than 3km above the crater, which could affect air travel.

“Volcanic activity remains high and there are indications of magma rising to the surface and causing tremors,” the National Disaster Management Agency has said, warning nearby residents and tourists against entering the exclusion zone.

Mt Agung is one of Indonesia’s 132 active volcanoes. A major eruption in 1963 killed about 1,100 people.

Volcano that Probably Caused LIA, Forces Closure of Bali Airport

Latest: 692 flights cancelled, 100,000+ people stranded

Eruptions intensifying at Mt. Barujari, the volcano within a volcano

The Barujari volcano, a post-caldera cone situated within the Rinjani’s caldera lake (Segara Anak), has erupted multiple times since Tuesday morning, with the intensity of the eruptions and volcanic earthquakes increasing, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported.

A large eruption occurred on Wednesday at 2.45 a.m. ejecting volcanic ash to an altitude of about 4km a.s.l., moving in the southwesterly and northwesterly directions, according to a report.

The Ngurah Rai airport in Bali was closed from 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, with a total of 692 flights cancelled, as of posting.

Flights to Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, by carriers including Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Cathay Pacific and KLM were among those affected, with at least 100,000 passengers stranded, according to various reports.

BPBD has imposed a 3-km exclusion zone from Mt. Rinjani’s caldera.

“Little Ice Age”
According to a recent study, four massive tropical volcanic eruptions, lasting for 50 years, may have triggered the Little Ice Age between 1275 and 1300 A.D.

Mt Rinjani Volcanic Complex is believed to have produced the largest eruption in the past 7,000 years, which lead to global cooling and failed harvest, starting in 1257.

The following bulletin is the latest issued by BPBD (Internet translation) – 4 November 2015 9:27pm (sic.)

Continued eruption of Mount Rinjani, Ngurah Rai Airport Closed Again

LOMBOK – Eruption of Mount Barujari inside the caldera of Mount Rinjani, Lombok Island, NTB continues. Based on observations PVMBG Observation Post Mount Rinjani, seismicity and eruptions with higher intensity. On Wednesday (4/11) at 2:45 pm, the eruption. The distribution of ashes toward Southwestern up to the Northwest from the eruption center at a speed of 10 knots, the surface layer up to an altitude of 14,000 feet. On the morning of the eruption of reaching 3,800 meters above sea level dpal, or 1,500 m from the summit of Mount Barujari. High atop Mount Barujari 2,300 m dpal. Smoke inclines leading to the West following the direction of the wind. Eruption and amplitude at position 40 mm.

Himawari satellite observations show the volcanic ash towards the West until the Southwestern up to Banyuwangi, East Java. These conditions cause the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali is closed again. Based on the Notice to Airman A2470 / 15, the closing force 4 November 2015 at 07:05 pm until 5 November 2015 at 07.45 pm.

Mount Rinjani is still Alert status (level II). Until now there should be no displacement. BNPB and BPBDs is coordinating contingency plan related to the eruption of Mount Rinjani. Number of people living in the area of ​​Disaster Prone (KRB. 33 700 inhabitants, the KRB I 13,800 inhabitants, KRB II 14,700 inhabitants, and KRB III 5,300 people. People are urged to remain calm. Prohibited no community activities within a radius of 3 km from the caldera of Mount Rinjani.

Mount Rinjani has two cone in the eastern part of the lake is Mount Barujari or Tenga mountain with an altitude of 2,376 m dpal, and Gunung Mas or mountain group with an altitude of 2,110 m dpal. PVMBG specify the name of the mountain at this time because of the eruption of Mount Rinjani is appropriate nomenclature of the 127 volcanoes in Indonesia. Mount Barujadi is one cone or a child of Mount Rinjani.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho – Head of Data Information and Public Relations BNPB

Volcanic Ash Forces Closure of Five Indonesian Airports

Volcanic eruption forces closure of five airports in Indonesia

Continued eruptions at Mount Raung in East Java has forced the authorities to shut down five airports in Indonesia, after volcanic ash disrupted many flights between Bali and Australia for a second day. Flight cancellations have since stranded thousands of traveler.

Increased activity was first detected at the volcano on June 24, 2015. The volcano began to eject volcanic matter on June 29, creating an ash cloud that led to warnings being issued to residents within a 3-km radius of the caldera, and flight disruptions in and out of Bali.

The five airports that are currently closed are:

• Denpasar International Airport in Bali (Ngurah Rai International Airport)
• The International Airport in Lombok
• Selaparang Airport (Lombo)
• Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi (Java)
• Notohadinegoro Airport  (Jember, East Java)

Mt. Raung
The 3,333-meter volcano, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, is a massive stratovolcano located in the province of East Java, and has a 2-km-wide and 500-metre-deep caldera. Ruang is about 140km northwest of Bali’s Denpasar airport.

Continued Eruptions

Local Volcanologists say the ash eruptions could last for several weeks, possibly longer. In that case tens of thousands of residents in East Java and neighboring islands may have to be evacuated. [See also earlier blog entries on Impact of Indonesian volcanic eruption s on Singapore.]

Volcanology of Java

Made up almost entirely of volcanic eruptions, the island of Java contains dozens of volcanoes including at least 45 that are considered to be “active” volcanoes.

Related Links

• Mt. Raung Eruptions Force Flight Cancellations July 3, 2015
• Mount Raung volcanic ash cloud disrupts Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to Bali (see video)

Mt. Raung Eruptions Force Flight Cancellations

Volcanic ash from Mt. Raung forces flight cancellation to and from Bali

Eruptions at Mt. Raung have prompted the authorities to raise the volcanic alert from Level 2 to Level 3. The volcano has been ejecting volcanic matter into the air since Sunday, said the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG).

Increased activity was detected at the volcano on June 24, 2015. The volcano began to eject volcanic matter on June 29, creating an ash cloud that led to warnings being issued to residents within a 3-km radius of the caldera, and flight disruptions in and out of Bali.

“The Jember Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in East Java said on Monday that the 3,333-meter Mount Raung had discharged molten lava on Sunday evening, confirming the authorities’ recent decision to increase the volcano’s alert status, said a report.

More than 2,000 residents in “two districts in Bondowoso lie within Mt. Raung’s potentially Disaster Prone Area (KRB),” and may have to be evacuated in the event of a major eruption.

Mt. Raung
The 3,333-meter volcano, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, is a massive stratovolcano located in the province of East Java, and has a 2-km-wide and 500-metre-deep caldera.

Ruang is about 140km northwest of Bali’s Denpasar airport.

Volcanology of Java

Made up almost entirely of volcanic eruptions, the island of Java contains dozens of volcanoes including at least 45 that are considered to be “active” volcanoes.