The Indonesian holiday hotspot island of Bali saw the 3,000-metre high Mount Agung erupt on Sunday. The eruption led to volcanic ash being spewed two kilometres up into the sky at 3.21am local time. There have been no reports of any injuries after the thick ash plume was seen drifting to the south-west.

Is it safe to travel to Bali?

Travelling to Bali in itself has not been listed as unsafe by officials.

However, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to within four kilometres of the Mount Agung crater in east Bali after the eruption on Sunday.

These are exclusion zones put in place by the local authorities due to ongoing volcanic activity.

FCO advice you to leave immediately if you’re in the exclusion zone.

FCO gave the following travel advice: “There are many active volcanoes in Indonesia, any of which can erupt with little or no warning.

“This often results in the evacuation of villages within a 3 to 7 kilometre radius and disruption to air travel in the wider region.

“In the past, repeated eruptions have caused destruction and fatalities.”

FCO also urged people to remember the local alert level may change at short notice.

Holidaymakers are advised to take extra care and follow the advice of local authorities, including respecting any exclusion zones.

This is because Indonesia sits along a volatile seismic strip called the Ring of Fire in the Pacific.

Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur regularly, which can present a potential threat of tsunamis.

Latest warning and alerts near Mount Agung

The alert level for Mount Agung is at level 3 on the four-scaled volcano alert system.

The level means the volcano is exhibiting heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption.

It could also mean an eruption is underway but poses limited hazards with no or minor volcanic-ash emissions.

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