New Volcanic Eruption Causes Flight Cancellations in Bali

Several international airlines announced today, Wednesday, the cancellation of flights to and from the Indonesian island of Bali following renewed volcanic activity from Mount “Liyotobi Lakilaki” in the East Nusa Tenggara region, which led to the release of thick clouds of volcanic ash reaching up to ten kilometers high.

This measure was taken following public safety warnings, forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes in search of safe places away from the dense ash clouds, according to Reuters.

The Australian airlines “Jetstar” and “Qantas” reported that they had decided to suspend flights to Bali, noting that the current situation poses a risk to aviation. The flight-tracking website “Flight Radar 24” also showed the cancellation of additional flights from “AirAsia” and “Virgin” airlines headed to the island.

Bali is one of Indonesia’s top tourist destinations, attracting visitors from around the world, particularly from Australia. However, the renewed volcanic activity has significantly impacted air traffic, with the general manager of Bali’s “Ngurah Rai” Airport, Ahmed Syauqi, stating that the number of canceled flights has reached 80 between November 4 and 12, including flights from Singapore, Hong Kong, and several Australian cities.

It is worth noting that the first eruption of this volcano occurred on November 3 of this month, resulting in the death of nine people. Since then, the volcano has continued erupting repeatedly, including several times on Tuesday, escalating the risk in the region.

Experts indicate that this event highlights the violent nature of volcanic activity in the area, underscoring the challenges faced by infrastructure and transportation, especially with serious environmental impacts that could harm the local population and tourism industry in Bali.