Huge plumes were seen rising 700m above the summit of Mount Agung today (November 21) after the eruption began at about 5pm local time.
Shocking images starting to come out of Bali show great clouds of what appears to be smoke drifting up from the volcano’s crater.
After the eruption was detected, Magma Indonesia: said “The blasting ash is blowing weakly towards the east-southeast. The eruption is still ongoing.”
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho called for calm and told people to stay out of the volcano’s danger zone, which stretches up to 7.5km in places.
“The status is still the same – level three,” he said. “Volcanic activities have not shown any increase in earthquakes.”
The BNPB has described today’s eruption as “phreatic”. A phreatic eruption is a steam blast caused by magma heating up ground or surface water.
The eruption comes nearly two months after the volcano alert was raised on September 22.
Despite the eruption, Mount Agung’s alert level remains at Level 3 after being downgraded from Level 4 on October 29.
Meanwhile, new photos from the evacuation camps in Bali show families gathered on floor mats with small piles of their possessions.
More than 145,000 people abandoned their homes to seek refuge at the camps when the volcano alert was at its highest, though this number decreased when the warning lowered.
The thick smoke and ash pouring out of the Bali volcano could cause chaos for those hoping to fly in or out of the island.
Virgin Australia said: “We encourage guests booked via travel agents or third parties to ensure Virgin Australia has your mobile number, should we need to contact you in the event of any changes.
“Guests with travel insurance are also encouraged to check with their insurer about their individual circumstances.”
The aviation colour code from the Agung Volcano Observatory has been updated to orange as a result of the eruption.
Mount Aung has not erupted for nearly 55 years when a series of violent explosions killed 1,100 people.