Food aid, face masks dispatched to Bali as 75,000 flee volcano

More than 57,000 people have fled a volcano on the tourist island of Bali as rising magma and increased tremors fuel fears of an imminent eruption. PHOTO: AFP

KARANGASEM, Indonesia, (AFP, REUTERS) - Vehicles laden with food, face masks and bedding have been sent to help more than 75,000 people who have fled a volcano on the tourist island of Bali, as Indonesian president Joko Widodo flew in to visit crowded aid centres.

Clouds shrouded the top of Bali's highest volcano Mount Agung on Tuesday (Sept 26) as the risk of an imminent eruption began to persuade some tourists to have second thoughts about visiting Indonesia's paradise island.

Strong volcanic tremors and billowing white smoke seen over the crater have raised alarm in recent days, prompting Indonesian officials to impose a 12km exclusion zone around the volcano, whose last eruption in 1963 killed over 1,000 people and destroyed several settlements.

Speaking in Klungkung district, Mr Widodo told evacuees the government would do its best to reduce economic losses incurred during the evacuation.

"It is not easy to handle a volcanic eruption because there is no certainty when it's going to happen, or if it's going to happen at all," he said. "I ask everybody near Gunung Agung to listen to the officials, the governor, and the mayor's instruction so we can all minimise the impact of this volcano."

Balinese residents, international NGOs and the central government have begun organising aid. Vehicles loaded with noodles, mineral water and blankets have been sent to the evacuation centres, while residents around the island have been collecting donations.

Indonesia's national disaster agency has sent 640,000 face masks, 12,500 mattresses, 8,400 blankets and 50 tents. The central government has a relief fund totalling nearly US$150 million to meet the cost of natural disasters, which could be tapped in case of an eruption.

Meanwhile, several countries, including Australia, Singapore, and the United States, have issued travel advisories alerting holidaymakers to the risk. And a hotel operator in Bali said news of the volcano had caused some guests to cancel their plans.

"Business is getting low since Mount Agung's alert status was raised to the highest level," said Ketut Purnawata, manager of Dasawana Resort, which is in the same district as the volcano, normally popular with tourists and hikers.

Nearly five million people visited Bali last year - most of them from mainly from Australia, China and Japan.

Airlines in Australia and Singapore said they were preparing for any possible disruptions due to an eruption, but flights were running normally for now.

Virgin Australia and Jetstar, both of which fly to Bali from Australia, said they would carry extra fuel in case they needed to reverse course quickly.

Jetstar and Singapore-based budget carrier Scoot said they had been contacted by a small number of customers looking to change their travel dates. "Less than 100 customers chose to rebook to a later date," a Scoot spokesman said.

Singapore Airlines and its short-haul arm SilkAir said customers travelling to Bali until Oct 2 could rebook or request a refund, while AirAsia said flights were operating normally.

Passengers spooked by news of the active volcano also took to Twitter to ask airlines about cancellation options, and several mentioned cancelling their plans altogether.

One Indonesian travel agency said it had seen some cancellations from domestic and international travellers.

"There will definitely be an impact on (sales of) tour packages but we don't know the figures yet," said Agustinus Pake Seko of PT Bayu Buana travel agency.

For now, life was going along largely as normal on the island famous for its beaches, temples and gentle culture.

One Spanish tourist, Jordi Portalo, 23, said he was unperturbed by the rumbling volcano. "I think it could happen but... maybe we'd have to stay here a couple more days, so nothing to worry about," he said sitting at a cafe next to a white-sand beach in the Nusa Dua area.

Sitting on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country.

Many Indonesians live near volcanoes because lava flows can make the surrounding soil and land fertile for farming.

Ash clouds from volcanoes and eruptions have disrupted tourism in Bali and other parts of Indonesia in the past.

Hundreds of domestic and international flights were disrupted in 2016 when a volcano erupted on Bali's neighbouring Lombok island, sending up columns of ash and debris.

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