The volcano has been spewing thick clouds of black ash and the Indonesia government has extended the closure of Bali airport amid fears an eruption is “imminent”.
Yesterday MAGMA Indonesia tweeted: “Tonight, for the first time a thermal anomaly was detected in the crater of Mount Agung by Nasa Modis satellite, about 70 megawatts of power.
“This indicates that a significant volume of magma had been on the surface.”
At least 22 villages are currently caught in the expected blast zone which could affect some 90,000 to 100,000 people – so far only about 40,000 have been evacuated.
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Bali’s Mount Agung has erupting ash and huge cold lava sludge flooding the popular holiday island
More than 59,000 tourists have been stranded in Bali’s international airport with more than 400 flights cancelled.
Photos from the scene show huge cold lava flows, also known as lahar, flooding rivers and surging down the mountain side.
And the hazardous mudflows could breach Agung exclusion zone, according to an expert in volcanology.
Professor Joachim Gottsmann, head of volcanology at Bristol University, told Express.co.uk: “Lahars can perhaps be best described as being similar to very wet concrete
Read Bali volcano eruption LIVE updates: Mount Agung ash erupts into sky as COLD LAVA flows
Mount Agung latest pictures: Volcano eruption begins
Mon, November 27, 2017
Indonesian authorities raised the state of alert to its highest level for the volcano, Mount Agung, after thick ash started shooting thousands of meters into the air with increasing intensity
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Mount Agung spews volcanic ash into the sky at night on November 27, 2017 in Karangasem, Island of Bali, Indonesia
Photos from the scene show huge cold lava flows, also known as lahar, flooding rivers and surging down the mountain side.
And the hazardous mudflows could breach Agung exclusion zone, according to an expert in volcanology.
Professor Joachim Gottsmann, head of volcanology at Bristol University, told Express.co.uk: “Lahars can perhaps be best described as being similar to very wet concrete
“They are devastating because they are fast moving and erosive due to their volcanic debris load – they can also travel very far. Examples in the Andes report a 400km run out distance from the source.
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Hazardous mudflows could breach Agung exclusion zone
“Hence populations along rivers which are usually fed from water from a volcano are at risk from lahars even if they are well outside an immediate exclusion zone.”
An Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman also said: “Watch out for lahar floods around Mt Agung
“Lahar floods have already occurred in several places on the slopes.”
The agency’s spokesman also urged people to avoid nearby river areas.
Indonesia has raised the volcano eruption alert to the highest possible level 4.
Other photos show huge plumes of ash cloud erupting from Mount Agung.
Flight delays across Indonesia’s other airports also occurred on Monday as Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International airport in Denpasar remained closed.
Photos reveal tired travellers anxious to return home in Bali’s airport as airlines announced flights would also be cancelled on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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More than 59,000 tourists have been stranded in Bali’s international airport
Virgin Australia tweeted: “Due to the significant volcanic ash and current weather conditions, Denpasar Airport is now closed. As a result, we have cancelled all flights between Bali and Australia today and Tuesday 28 November. Please visit our Travel Alerts page for more info.”
Qantas’ Jetstar also said: “All Tuesday, some Wednesday Bali flights cancelled.”
AirAsia said: “Following a safety advisory from the local authority regarding volcanic activity of Mt Agung will remained closed… Therefore all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights to and from Bali on November 28 remain cancelled until further notice. In addition, flight from and to Lombok also remain cancelled today.”