Volcanic chaos: Bali flights canceled, tourists stranded
The ongoing volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Flores has forced airlines to cancel flights to the nearby island of Bali. "Volcanic ash poses a significant threat to safe operations of the aircraft in the vicinity of volcanic clouds," stated a representative of AirAsia, the carrier that canceled several flights.
5:12 PM EST, November 13, 2024
The Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano, located near Bali, has spewed volcanic ash to a height of over 6 miles. Ash poses a serious threat to aviation, as it significantly reduces visibility and can cause damage to jet engines.
Tourists couldn't fly to Bali
AirAsia, along with carriers from Australia, India, Malaysia, and Singapore, canceled several flights on Wednesday, November 13, including those to and from Bali—a top tourist destination in Southeast Asia in recent years.
"Volcanic ash poses a significant threat to safe operations of the aircraft in the vicinity of volcanic clouds," reported AirAsia.
At this time, foreign carriers have not announced when they will resume their flights.
Media reports indicate that thousands of tourists are stranded at airports, including those in Indonesia and Australia. "The airline didn’t provide accommodation, leaving us stranded at this airport," said Charlie Austin from Perth, Australia, who was on vacation in Bali with his family, as quoted by TIME. "The important thing is that we have to be able to get out of here," another tourist added.
Volcano threatens the island
According to the Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency, since November 3, when the eruptions began, nine people have died, 31 have been injured, and over 11,000 have been evacuated from endangered areas.
Indonesia, located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire—an area of high seismic activity—has nearly 130 active volcanoes. Eruptions pose serious threats to air traffic and residents' safety.
