Bali volcano MAP: Latest ash cloud maps as Mount Agung erupts

The volcanic alert level has risen to four – the highest possible level – and the aviation code has been upgraded to red ash. 

Flights to and from the island were grounded due to eruption, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded and fearing for their safety.

The spread of volcanic ash was hindered by cloudy conditions today, but the volcano continues to steadily erupt, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VACC) in Darwin.

In a public advisory warning, VACC said: “Volcanic ash is unidentifiable on current imagery due to met cloud. Webcam and ground reports indicate eruption continues at constant rate.”

Ash cloud maps from VACC show the dense black mass spreading out over Bali and onto the neighbouring island of Pulau Lombok in the east.

A forecast map for Tuesday November 28 shows the ash cloud will spread eastwards along the coast of Indonesia’s main island of Java.

About 40,000 people have fled from an eight to 10 km exclusion zone around the volcano’s summit, but tens of thousands still remain in the danger zone.

Bali’s main airport in Denpasar remains closed with officials expecting more flight cancellations to paralyse the island.

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International flights from Denpasar International Airport and Lombok International Airport have been suspended. Several flights from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Batten are also grounded. 

Ash has rained down on villages on the slopes of the  and Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) remains on high alert.

The agency said in a statement: “Plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (7 miles) from the peak.

“The potential for a larger eruption is imminent.”

The haunting red glow of lava is visible from the smoking crater. Watch it here: .

Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, razing several villages to the ground and killing over 1,100 people.

The volcano woke up from its deep slumber in late September when violent seismic activity began to rock the stratovolcano. 

Indonesia’s Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG) has warned that Agung’s northeast area is showing signs of swelling “indicating there is fairly strong pressure toward the surface”.

Soldiers, police officers and volunteers have been tirelessly handing out face masks all week.