Indonesian authorities have raised alert levels for a volcano on the country’s resort island of Bali.(Photo: news.sky.com)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesianauthorities have raised alert levels for a volcano on the country’s resortisland of Bali after hundreds of small tremors triggered fears that it coulderupt for the first time in more than 50 years.
Mount Agung, about 75 kilometres fromthe tourist hub of Kuta, has been rumbling since August and officials havebanned people from venturing within
7.5 kilometres of its summit.
No volcanic ash has been seen spewing from the crater. But hundreds of smalltremors have rattled the mountain in the past two days, forcing about 350people to evacuate to safer places.
Willem Rampangilei, headof Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency, warned that the community must remain vigilant as up to 480 tremors have beenrecorded.
The airport on the resort island, a top holiday destination that attracts millionsof foreign tourists every year, has not been affected but its authoritiesare keeping a close watch on volcano developments.
Mount Agung last erupted in 1963,killing more than 1,000 people.-VNA
VNA
