Beware of videos of crazy Mt. Agung eruptions claimed to be occurring in Bali that are circulating on social media.

These videos that purport to show the mountain already violently erupting are misrepresentations. No eruptions have occurred in Bali at the time of this article being published.

One thing you should know is that Balinese authorities are on standby to divert flights destined for the holiday island of Bali as increasingly frequent tremors from a rumbling volcano stoke fears an eruption could be imminent.

Update: October 1, 2017

Life in Bali is great. We have been enjoying our moments rather than focusing our energy on things we cannot control.  Interacting with locals and foreigners in Legian on a daily basis.  The word on the street is the government is doing an outstanding job helping the villagers in the north as they are most affected by the activities on Mt. Agung.  Flights schedules, boats, ferries and public transit is running as usual.  Witnessing many tourists especially when in popular areas like Seminyak Square, Kuta Beach, and Legian Beach.

 

Is Bali still safe for our guests?

There is no simple “yes” answer to the question. Like any trip to a foreign place we must exercise caution.

While local residents are taking precautions and abandoning their homes, on the contrary for tourists everything appears to be carrying on as normal. Important to mention that Mt. Agung is approximately 72km away from the busiest areas in Bali. It would be safe for our guests as long as we remain on the western coast in Bali like Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Uluwatu.

Seismic activity from the volcano has escalated dramatically in the past two weeks but officials say there is no reason for tourists to panic and the island famous for its surfing, beaches and elegant Hindu culture is still safe to visit.

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport has been operating normally since the alert status for Mount Agung was raised to the highest level on September 22, 2017.  Airlines are monitoring the situation and are still flying as usual, but that could change in the event of an eruption.  As a rule, if there is the presence of any ash in the atmosphere it means it becomes a no fly zone.  Depending on the wind and how long the eruption goes for, there could easily be a shut down of airspace over Denpasar, Bali.

Tourists would be safe from the volcano eruption if they stay outside of the depicted red zone. In the event of volcanic ash clouds, foreigners travelling to/from Bali are advised to confirm their travel arrangements with their airline or travel agent directly, prior to travelling to the airport. If your travel is disrupted, ensure you keep all receipts to support your travel insurance claim.

 

What about evacuations?

Disaster officials say nearly 75,000 people have fled the region around the mountain and the number is rising. It includes people who left voluntarily as well as those told to evacuate from at least 9 and up to 12 kilometers (6 to 8 miles) from the crater, depending on location. Evacuations have only commenced for villagers that have homes in the red zone that would be impacted if an eruption were to occur.

No evacuations, cancellations, or disruptions have been prompted for tourists and foreigners staying well within the safe areas.

 

What to do before arriving in Bali?

The best thing to do is check with your airline or tour operator to find out if your flight is affected, and check what your travel insurance covers if your holiday is disrupted. So far there are no reported flight cancellations into Bali due to the volcano.

Ferries and fast boats between Bali and neighboring islands of Lombok and Java are also running their typical schedules.

Officials have said there is no current danger to people in other parts of Bali. The Foriegn Office (FO) have updated their travel advice page for Bali saying: “You should follow the advice of the local authorities and stay outside the exclusion zone which extends between 9 and 12km from the crater.”

Recommendations:

• Bring a N95 or 3M dust mask and sunglasses / goggles / protective eyewear
• Ensure you have travel insurance, and travel medical insurance
• Stay away from fake news and social media
• Go to trusted news outlets