Britons jetting off to Indonesia have been issued a travel warning after several flights were grounded due to volcanic eruptions.
An ash cloud has caused significant disruptions at Denpasar Airport, in Bali, due to volcanic activity on Flores, located approximately 500km east of the tourist hotspot.
Multiple flights scheduled for Wednesday have been impacted, leaving passengers scrambling to make alternative arrangements.
Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia have grounded more than a dozen flights scheduled to arrive or depart from Denpasar Airport.
The eruptions happened on Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Flores
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The disruptions have left hundreds of passengers stranded at the popular Indonesian tourist destination.
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) cautioned: “Flight disruptions have been reported at Bali International Airport due to volcanic ash from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island.
“Check with your airline for updates. If your flight is affected, contact your airline and your travel insurer for alternative travel and accommodation arrangements.”
The widespread cancellations come as aviation authorities monitor the hazardous volcanic ash conditions in Balinese airspace.
The volcanic eruption has claimed at least 10 lives on the Indonesian island of Flores, with several others sustaining injuries in the incident last week.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on November 3, prompting local authorities to establish a 7km exclusion zone around the volcano’s crater.
As a result, the FCDO is advising against all travel within this exclusion zone on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
The body has issued travel warnings for six active volcanoes across Indonesia, following recent eruptions, establishing specific exclusion zones around each volcano that range from three to seven kilometres from their craters.
Britons have been told to check for updates
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Mount Ruang in Northern Sulawesi erupted in April 2024, with authorities establishing a similar 7km restricted area.
Mount Ibu’s June 2024 eruption in North Maluku Province also carries a 7km exclusion zone.
The remaining three volcanoes also have specific safety restrictions in place. These include Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra’s Karo Regency, which has a 5km exclusion zone around its crater.
Mount Marapi in West Sumatra maintains a 3km restricted area, while Mount Semeru in East Java has both a 5km crater exclusion zone and additional restrictions along the Besuk Kobokan river, extending 13km from the crater.
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