Thousands evacuated as volcano rumbles on Bali

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Thousands of residents were evacuated from villages near an active volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali, officials said on Friday, as seismic tremors rattled some areas and smoke rose above one of the world's most popular tourist spots.

A resident packs up belongings to evacuate from the village of Sebudi located near Mount Agung volcano following increased seismic activity in Karangasem on the resort island of Bali, Indonesia, September 20, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The alert status for Mount Agung in eastern Bali was at 3, one level below the highest, and authorities warned tourists and residents to avoid camping or hiking within a 6-km radius of the crater.

"Volcanic activity remains high and there are indications of magma rising to the surface and causing tremors," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho of the National Disaster Management Agency.

"There should be zero public activity within the specified radius in case there is an eruption," Nugroho said. However, flights at Bali's international airport were operating as normal and there was little disruption to tourism operators across the rest of the island, authorities said.

A local resident takes a picture of Mount Agung, an active volcano that authorities say is showing increased activity, from a monitoring station in Rendang Village, Karangasem on the resort island of Bali, September 19, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Nearly 6,000 people have been evacuated so far and that number was expected to rise, officials said.

Some residents in villages at the foot of Mount Agung said they were reluctant to leave immediately. Others gathered to watch the volcano.

"I'm here with my husband. We need to feed the animals so that's what we're doing first," villager Wayan Suarda told national television station tvOne.

Others packed their belongings into trucks for evacuation, while more stopped to watch as clouds of white smoke rose from the crater, which is around 3,000 meters above sea level.

A police officer searches for residents who did not evacuate an area close to the summit of Mount Agung following increased seismic activity on the volcano in Temukus village, Karangasem, Bali, September 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Indonesia straddles the "Pacific Ring of Fire", where several tectonic plates meet and cause 90 percent of the world's seismic activity, according to the US Geological Survey.

Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country in the world.

A series of eruptions at Mount Agung between 1963 and 1964 killed more than 1,000 people and injured hundreds.

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Source(s): Reuters