Bali’s Mount Agung erupts after months of spewing ash

Bali’s Mount Agung volcano has erupted after months of intensive monitoring and extensive local evacuations.

The volcano spewed black ash and smoke 700m above peak at 5:05pm local time, but authorities say its alert level remains unchanged.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency has called on the public to remain calm, and Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport remains open.

A cloud of black and grey ash (pictured) could be seen spewing from the volcano’s summit

The eruption was considered small although the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the danger zone around the volcano was ‘dynamic’ and could change at any time. 

They advise people stay out of the exclusion zone that remains unchanged and extends 7.5km from the volcano.

29,000 evacuees are currently living in shelters — that’s far less than the 150,000 people who fled their homes last month in fear the volcano would erupt. 

The Australian government advises all Australian tourists in Bali to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities and ensure they have travel insurance.

The alert level remains at three after it was downgraded from the maximum level of four on October 29. 

Agung has been rumbling intermittently since August.  

Officials estimated recent fears over Mount Agung’s eruption have cost Bali at least $110 million in lost tourism and productivity, as many local residents moved to shelters.

People sit together in an emergency shelter (pictured) in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia

People wait in emergency accommodation (pictured) after being evacuated from their homes