- A thick black plume rose 700 metres above the summit of Mount Agung around 5pm local time
- The alert level on Bali remains at Level 3 on a scale of 1 to 4.
- A seven kilometre exclusion zone extends from the volcanoes summit
- Officials are monitoring the volcano for signs of increased seismic activity.
- No travel disruptions are expected at the moment, but travellers should monitor the situation.
Here are the latest updates from Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, MAGMA. (All times GMT).
2.13pm: Despite official confirmation of the eruption, the leader of a village near the volcano has said that they have not seen any signs of the eruption yet.
Besakih customary village chief, Jero Mangku Widiartha told Jakarta Post: “I am sure it has not erupted. We saw the mountain this afternoon.
“All of us saw it. It was not an eruption. There was no earthquake. We did not feel any earthquake.”
2.11pm: There were 29,245 refugees spread across 278 points of refuge as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
2.10pm: Bali’s international airport is still operating normally, according to an airport spokesman.
2.06pm: Ngurah Rai International Airport spokesman Arie Ahsan said: “The wind is blowing to the east with tendency towards southeast.”
2.05pm: 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.”
2pm: National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that people should stay out of the up to to 7.5 kilometre volcano danger zone.
“The status is still the same – level three,” Mr Sutopo said. “Volcanic activities have not shown any increase in earthquakes.”
1.55pm: Volcanologist Dr Janine Crippler tweeted: “Agung is not spewing, people are not panicked. At this time the eruption is small and everyone should be encouraged to stay calm, be alert, and watch official information sources.
“People in Bali, you have all known for a while this could happen. You’ve got this. Keep calm, be ready, and listen to official sources of information.”
1.50pm: Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency has asked people to remain calm after a 700 metre tall black plum rose from the volcano.
National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho has told people to stay out of a six to 7.4km exclusion zone surrounding the summit.
1pm: Magma Indonesia said that the eruption began at 5.05pm local time and grey plume has been seen rising as high as 700m above the peak.
An update issued today said: “The blasting ash is blowing weakly towards the east-southeast. The eruption is still ongoing.”
12.55pm: The aviation colour code from the Agung Volcano Observatory has updated to orange.
12.45pm: The National Disaster Management Agency has described the eruption as “phreatic”.
The USGS said: “Phreatic eruptions are steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits (for example, tephra and pyroclastic-flow deposits).
“The intense heat of such material (as high as 1,170 ° C for basaltic lava) may cause water to boil and flash to steam, thereby generating an explosion of steam, water, ash, blocks, and bombs.”
Bali volcano is erupting after long period of seismic activity
Bali’s Mount Agung is finally erupting after authorities were first alerted by dangerous seismic activity on September 22.
The alert level at the popular tourist destination remains at Level 3 after it was downgraded from Level 4 on October 29.
Authorities are however monitoring the situation and any seismic activity in advance of a full-blown eruption.