Australian travellers have faced significant disruptions as flights to and from Bali have been cancelled and delayed due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi on the southeastern part of Flores, Indonesia. This situation highlights the impact of natural events on travel, drawing attention from many across the nation.
The 1584-metre volcano erupted again overnight, with its largest column projecting rocks, lava, and ash approximately nine kilometres into the atmosphere, according to Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation. The volcanic activity has raised alarms, leading to increased seismic monitoring in the area.
The centre has advised visitors and tourists to maintain an eight-kilometre distance from the volcano as a precautionary measure. This eruption also poses a risk of rain-induced lava floods in rivers originating from the mountain’s peak.
READ MORE: PM leads Dutton but election 50-50, new poll says
As a direct consequence of this natural disaster, Jetstar has cancelled all flights to and from Bali this morning but anticipates that flights scheduled for this afternoon will proceed as planned. The airline is diligently monitoring the situation and has advised passengers to check their flight status on Jetstar.com before heading to the airport.
Jetstar customers who had booked flights for today and tomorrow but choose not to travel can rebook their flights at no extra charge, cancel their booking for a credit voucher, or manage their booking accordingly.
READ MORE: Rise in weapons crime a ‘matter of urgency’, Aussie retailers say
At this stage, Virgin Australia has reported no flight cancellations; however, they are experiencing delays with two services departing from Melbourne and Brisbane this afternoon. Passengers traveling from Bali to Australia should also be prepared for potential delays.
Virgin Australia has stated that their meteorologists are closely monitoring the ash cloud movement in Indonesia following the Mount Lewotobi eruption. Safety remains their top priority, and they anticipate some delays for Bali services today.
Fortunately, there are no reported impacts on Qantas flights today, allowing some respite for travellers.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics, and the weather via our news app and receive notifications directly to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
