Bali volcano update: Earthquakes strike near Mount Agung as fears of eruption rumble on

A magnitude 3.7 earthquake struck at 6.02am Western Indonesian Time (WIB) in the vicinity of Mount Agung, according to MAGMA Indonesia. 

MAGMA’s interactive map showed a magnitude 5 earthquake hit slightly further away just hours earlier at 4.54am.  

Bali’s Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) confirmed that a tectonic earthquake hit at 4.54am and was likely caused by a strike slip fault. 

It comes after a magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Bali on Wednesday, according to GFZ’s GEOFON seismology programme. 

Nevertheless the latest graphs show that seismic activity has decreased at Mount Agung in recent weeks. 

Mount Agung remains under a volcano alert and tens of thousands of evacuees are still staying in refugee camps. 

The volcano’s alert status was downgraded from level four to level three earlier this month after the amount of seismic activity dipped. 

But the head of Bali’s Volcanology Centre (PVMBG) has warned that the threat of an eruption has not yet passed.

“The volcanic activities have not completely calmed down and there is still a potential for an eruption,” he said.

Many Bali volcano refugees have returned to their homes in Mount Agung’s danger zone to mark the festival of Galungan which runs until November 11.

Made Dwi, from Besakih village, told Antara News: “Prayers are being held at the family temple, the village temple, and other various temples.

“Some people have returned home and stay in each other’s homes, but there are still many in the refugee camps because their neighbourhoods are still in disaster prone spots.”