Mount Agung major "explosive eruption" now imminent as 100.000 people evacuated and a further 59,000 tourists stranded after flights cancelled

Photo Ash plume from Agung volcano yesterday morning (image: PVMBG)/Volcano Discovery.com

• Mount Agung experts now say an explosive eruption is now imminent after being dormant for more than 60 years.
• The Indonesian disaster agency on Monday called on 100,000 to evacuate and expanded the danger zone after the eruption of Mount Agung.
• Hundreds of flights were cancelled, leaving about 59,000 tourists stranded on the Island.
• Continuing plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of strong blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (seven miles) from the peak

Bali's authorities are now worried as to just how big the current eruption will be!
Indonesia raised its warning for Bali’s Mount Agung volcano to the top level four alert on Monday and closed the holiday island’s airport and told residents around the mountain to immediately evacuate, warning of an “imminent” risk of a larger eruption.
The Indonesian disaster agency on Monday called on 100,000 to evacuate and expanded the danger zone after the eruption of Mount Agung.
Authorities raised the alert to the highest level on Monday following the increased activity over the weekend.
The move to close the airport came after tests showed the volcano's ash had reached its airspace, making it dangerous to fly.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled, leaving about 59,000 tourists stranded on the Island.
The closure will continue until Tuesday, but officials said they are closely monitoring the situation and will determine every six hours whether the airport should remain closed.
"We now have to find a hotel and spend more of our money that they're not going to cover us for when we get home, unfortunately," said Canadian tourist Brandon Olsen.
Officials at the Disaster Mitigation Agency said in a statement Monday that a volcanic eruption is "imminent" though the exact scale remains unclear.
"Continuing plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (seven miles) from the peak," the statement read, according to Reuters.
"Rays of fire are increasingly visible from night to the following day.
This indicates the potential for a larger eruption is imminent," it added.
In addition to the closure of the airport, officials warned residents around the volcano to evacuate immediately, creating a 6-mile exclusion zone around the crater.

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