Nearly 50,000 people flee rumbling Bali volcano
Nearly 50,000 people on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali have sought refuge in temporary shelters, as fears grow that Mount Agung could erupt for the first time in half a century. Officials denied false news circulating online that the volcano had erupted, saying photos on social media were from previous volcanic eruptions in the country. […]
Nearly 50,000 people on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali have sought refuge in temporary shelters, as fears grow that Mount Agung could erupt for the first time in half a century.
Officials denied false news circulating online that the volcano had erupted, saying photos on social media were from previous volcanic eruptions in the country.
“Mount Agung hasn’t erupted,” said Sutopo Nugroho, spokesman, the National Disaster Management Agency. “Those images are from different volcanoes.”
Authorities on Friday raised the alert for Mount Agung to the highest level, indicating an eruption is imminent.
Budi Hartini, an official at an emergency post in Karangasem district, where the volcano is located, said 49,300 people living near the volcano had been sheltered in makeshift camps in 10 localities.
“There are still villagers, who are staying put and we are persuading them to evacuate,” Hartini said.
The 3,031-metre Mount Agung last erupted for almost a year in 1963 to 1964, killing about 1,200 people.
Agency has urged thousands of people who remain in dangerous zone in the resort island of Bali to immediately leave, as a volcano in the island could erupt at any time.
Gunung Agung volcano in Karang Asem district is in the highest alert following rising seismic activity.
“It is estimated that about 62,000 people are living in the dangerous zone,” he said.
Volcanologists have twice extended the no-go zone to 12 km for the areas in the north, northeast, southeast, south and southwest of the crater and 9 km for the other areas from 7.5 km.
“Based on all observations, the potential of eruption of the volcano is high,” said Sutopo.