JAKARTA, May 25 (Reuters) - A volcano erupted on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali, causing some overnight flight cancellations to and from Australia as an ash cloud rose into the sky, officials said on Saturday.

Mount Agung volcano spewed out lava and showers of rocks over a distance of about 3 km (2 miles), with ash falling over dozens of villages, officials said. There were no reports of casualties.

Flights, run by Qantas Airways, JetStar and Virgin Airlines, were operating normally on Saturday.

Authorities had 50,000 masks available as a precaution though the alert level on the volcano remained unchanged and there had been no evacuations.

Photographs of Agung overnight showed an ash column and glowing lava in the crater of the volcano, which rises majestically over eastern Bali at a height of just over 3,000 metres.

In late 2017, authorities raised the alert level on Agung after a spike in activity, triggering evacuations and travel chaos at the time. The alert level has since been lowered but the rumbling Agung has erupted intermittently since then occasionally disrupting flights.

A major eruption in 1963 killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages

Bali, famous for its surf, beaches and temples, attracts around 5 million visitors a year. (Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Bali stringer Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Nick Macfie) </s> Bali Volcano Mount Agung has spewed smoke and ash from its crater since Sunday, prompting terrified locals to evacuate its danger zones as fears the volcano could erupt in a “matter of hours”. The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) has raised the Bali volcano alert to 4, meaning an eruption can be expected at any time. More than 1,000 tremors were recorded on the Bali Volcano on Monday and Tuesday, including a magnitude 4.2 quake at 11am BST on September 26. After the quake, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center tweeted: “Strongest quake so far while the volcano may be about to erupt.

“Agung volcano is said to be close to erupting and the Bali island just taken by a M4.2 earthquake.” More frequent shallow earthquakes could be a sign a new batch of magma has moved just under the summit of the Bali volcano, according to Volcano Discovery. Devy Kamil Syahbana, a seismologist from Indonesia’s volcanology centre, said he’d never seen such high seismic energy on Mount Agung. He said: “We need to pay attention because these kinds of earthquakes indicate the movement of magma and increase the probability of an eruption.”

The Bali volcano has prompted the Foreign Office to warn of cancelled flights, leaving tourists stranded on the island in the event of Mount Agung erupting. The latest Foreign Office advice to Britons planning to visit the region warned: “an eruption is possible in the next 24 hours.” The Foreign Office said: “You should follow the advice of the local authorities and stay outside the exclusion zone. If there is an eruption, volcanic ash clouds could cause flight disruptions. “In the event of volcanic ash clouds, you should confirm your travel arrangements directly with your airline or travel agent before travelling to the airport.

Terrifying video footage of the Bali volcano shows the mountain spewing tonnes of ashes and smoke as locals brace themselves for its eruption. A 200m-tall column of smoke was spotted rising from Mount Agung early on Sunday, according to Gede Suantika, the chief geologist monitor the site. He said: “We observed sulphuric smoke spewing from its carter and we never saw this before.” </s> next Image 1 of 2

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Thousands of villagers on the Indonesian resort island of Bali are sheltering in sports centers, village halls and with relatives, fearing Mount Agung will erupt for the first time in more than half a century.

Authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level Friday following a "tremendous increase" in seismic activity. It last erupted in 1963, killing 1,100 people.

Villager Made Suda says he left overnight with 25 family members to stay in the Klungkung sports center.

He said Saturday: "I feel grief and fear, feel sad about leaving the village and leaving four cows."

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said no-one should be within 9 kilometers (6 miles) of the crater and within 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) to the north, northeast, southeast and south-southwest. </s> JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Nearly 10,000 villagers have left their homes around the Mount Agung volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali because of a possible eruption.

Officials raised the alert status of the volcano on Monday to the second highest level and recommended people stay 6 kilometers (3.8 miles) from the crater, and up to 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) away to the north, southeast and south-southwest.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said Friday that some 9,400 villagers have evacuated from their houses and were scattered in 50 shelters in the districts of Karangasem, Klungkung and Buleleng.

Mount Agung volcano is seen at the sunrise in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. Indonesia officials have more than doubled the zise of no go zone around the mount Agung volcano o the tourist island of Bali and raised its alert level for the second time in less than a week. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

The 3,031-meter (9,944-foot) Agung, located about 72 kilometers (45 miles) to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, last erupted in 1963, killing 1,100 people and hurling ash as high as 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Mount Agung volcano is seen at the sunrise in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. Indonesia officials have more than doubled the zise of no go zone around the mount Agung volcano o the tourist island of Bali and raised its alert level for the second time in less than a week. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesian evacuees sit at a temporary shelter in Bali, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Hundreds of villages are staying at temporary shelters after evacuating from their homes as Indonesian officials had more than doubled the size of a no go zone around the Mount Agung volcano on the tourist island and raised its alert level on Monday. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Children play as evacuees rest at a temporary shelter in Bali, Indonesia, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Hundreds of villages are staying at temporary shelters after evacuating from their homes as Indonesian officials had more than doubled the size of a no go zone around the Mount Agung volcano on the tourist island and raised its alert level on Monday. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) </s> Mount Agung, a volcano located in east Bali erupted at 7.22pm local time on Friday, May 24. The massive eruption lasted for four minutes and 30 seconds, and saw hot lava running down three kilometres from the crater. The eruption also threw smoldering lava and pieces of stone into the air, which fell in areas around 2.5-3 kilometres from the summit.

Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000ft (4600m) altitude or flight level 150 . Indonesia’s Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) said: “The ash column could not be observed. “Thundering sounds from the eruption were heard adequately strong from the monitoring post.” READ MORE: Bali volcano eruption: Where is Mount Agung? Is Bali safe to travel?

Is it safe to travel to Bali? PVMBG said alert level on Mount Agung was set at level 3 at the moment. That means people finding themselves around the four kilometres big red zone area should leave immediately. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has also advised against all travel to areas near Mount Agung.

FCO warns against going close than four kilometres of the Mount Agung crater. These are exclusion zones put in place by the local authorities due to the ongoing volcanic activity. If you’re in either exclusion zone, you should leave immediately. Residents who reside around the downstream of rivers upstreaming in the Mount Agung are advised to remain vigilant on possible stream of hot lava or volcanic materials.

The local alert level may change at short notice, and FCO urged people in the area to check media reports before travelling close to the volcano. 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 three to seven kilometre radius and disruption to air travel in the wider region. In the past, repeated eruptions have caused destruction and fatalities. </s> Mount Agung volcano is seen at the sunrise in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. Indonesia officials have more than doubled the zise of no go zone around the mount Agung volcano o the tourist island of Bali and raised its alert level for the second time in less than a week. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities have raised the alert level for the Mount Agung volcano on the tourist island of Bali to the highest level, and more than 11,000 villagers have left their homes around the mountain, officials said Friday.

It was the third time in little more than a week that the alert level was raised. The Department of Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics said there has been a "tremendous increase" in the mountain's seismic activity, indicating a greater probability of an eruption, though it couldn't give a timeframe.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said no residents or tourists should be within 9 kilometers (6 miles) of the crater and within 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) to the north, northeast, southeast and south-southwest.

Waskita Sutadewa, spokesman for the disaster mitigation agency in Karangasem district around Mount Agung, said nearly 11,300 villagers have been officially evacuated. He said the real number of displaced might be two or three times that, since many have voluntarily fled their houses.

The agency says evacuees are staying in temporary shelters, sports centers, village halls and with relatives.

The 3,031-meter (9,944-feet) Agung last erupted in 1963, killing about 1,100 people and hurling ash as high as 10 kilometers (6 miles).

The mountain, 72 kilometers (45 miles) to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia.

The country of thousands of islands is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

More than 7,000 of the evacuees were in the 840 square kilometer (325 square mile) Karangasem district, which is home to about 408,000 people. </s> Mount Sinabung: Airlines issue 'red notice' as Indonesian volcano erupts on island of Sumatra

Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has shot billowing columns of ash more than five kilometres into the atmosphere and hot clouds down its slopes.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said there were no fatalities or injuries from the eruption on Monday (local time).

The regional volcanic ash advisory centre in Darwin issued a "red notice" to airlines.

The volcano, one of three currently erupting in Indonesia, was dormant for four centuries before exploding in 2010, killing two people.

Another eruption, in 2014, killed 16 people, while seven died in a 2016 eruption.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said hot ash clouds travelled as far as 4.9 kilometres south.

About 30,000 people have been forced to leave homes around the mountain in the past few years.

Mount Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" — an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Meanwhile, more than 400 flights were cancelled in November after Bali's main airport was closed amid warnings of a potential volcanic eruption at Mount Agung.

Mount Agung had been hurling clouds of white and grey ash about three kilometres into the atmosphere, prompting the evacuation of about 150,000 people.

It was estimated the threat of the eruption cost the island $1.5 billion in cancellations. </s> Karangasem: Indonesian officials raised the highest possible alert for a volcano on the resort island of Bali late Friday, after tremors prompted thousands to flee over fears it could erupt for the first time in more than 50 years.

Mount Agung, about 75 kilometres from the tourist hub of Kuta, has been rumbling since August and officials have recommended that people stay at least nine kilometres away from the crater.

Hundreds of small tremors have rattled the mountain this week, causing almost 10,000 people to leave their homes as of Friday over fears of a volcanic eruption.

"Tremors happen very often, so we are afraid and I have taken all my family members to the refugee shelter," villager I Wayan Suwarjana told AFP.

National disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho advised people to stay calm and not to believe rumours.

The airport in Bali`s capital Denpasar, a top holiday destination that attracts millions of foreign tourists every year, has not been affected but airport management is watching the situation closely.

The Australian government put out a travel advisory Friday instructing travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia and follow the instructions of authorities.

More than 1,000 people died when Mount Agung last erupted in 1963. </s> Footage broadcast by RT, taken from the area near the volcano in Indonesia shows ash clouds and smoke engulfing parts of the mountain. Villages surrounding the volcano have since been evacuated leaving more than 75,000 people displaced with experts predicting Mount Agung could erupt “within hours”. Balinese locals continue to flee the danger zone, which stretches 7.5 miles around Mount Agung. The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) has raised the Bali volcano alert to 4, meaning an eruption can be expected at any time.

A 200m-tall column of smoke was spotted rising from Mount Agung early on Sunday, according to Gede Suantika, the chief geologist monitor the site. He said: “We observed sulphuric smoke spewing from its carter and we never saw this before.” More than 1,000 tremors were recorded on the Bali Volcano on Monday and Tuesday, including a magnitude 4.2 quake at 11am BST on September 26. After the quake, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center tweeted: “Strongest quake so far while the volcano may be about to erupt.

“Agung volcano is said to be close to erupting and the Bali island just taken by a M4.2 earthquake.” More frequent shallow earthquakes could be a sign a new batch of magma has moved just under the summit of the Bali volcano, according to Volcano Discovery. Devy Kamil Syahbana, a seismologist from Indonesia’s volcanology centre, said he’d never seen such high seismic energy on Mount Agung. He said: “We need to pay attention because these kinds of earthquakes indicate the movement of magma and increase the probability of an eruption.” The latest Foreign Office advice to Britons planning to visit the region warned “an eruption is possible in the next 24 hours”. The Foreign Office said: “You should follow the advice of the local authorities and stay outside the exclusion zone. If there is an eruption, volcanic ash clouds could cause flight disruptions.”
Mount Agung in Bali, Indonesia, erupts.