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Volcanic ash causes Indonesia airport closures Volcanic ash causes Indonesia airport closures
(about 7 hours later)
Five airports in Indonesia have been shut, including those in the tourist hotspot Bali, because of a volcanic eruption, transport officials say. Three airports in Indonesia, including in the tourist hotspot Bali, are to remain shut until at least Saturday, after a volcanic eruption.
Mount Raung in East Java has been spewing ash into the air for nearly a week, raising concerns it could interfere with aircraft safety.Mount Raung in East Java has been spewing ash into the air for nearly a week, raising concerns it could interfere with aircraft safety.
For a second day, many flights between Bali and Australia have been cancelled, stranding travellers. Bali's Denpasar airport, a top destination for Australians, was closed late on Thursday, stranding travellers.
The island is a top holiday destination for Australians. The government said this and two small airports in East Java would stay shut.
A spokesperson for state airport operator Angkasa Pura told BBC Indonesian that Denpasar would be closed until at least 21:30 local time (13:30 GMT). Earlier advice had been that all airports would remain out of action until late Friday.
However, Indonesian transport ministry official JA Barata said the re-opening of the airports would be based on the activity on Mount Raung, which is about 120km (75 miles) from Denpasar airport. Indonesian transport ministry official JA Barata had said the re-opening of airports would be based on the activity on Mount Raung, which is about 120km (75 miles) from Denpasar airport.
The four other affected airports are the International Airport in Lombok, Selaparang Airport also in Lombok, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi, East Java and Notohadinegoro Airport in Jember, East Java. He said Denpasar, and East Java's Blimbingsari and Notohadinegoro airports in East Java would be closed until 10:00 local time (03:00 GMT) on Saturday.
Scores of flights have been postponed indefinitely or cancelled by airlines, including Jetstar and Virgin Australia who have halted all flights in and out of Denpasar Airport. Lombok's international airport, and a smaller one on the island, were re-opened earlier on Friday.
Hundreds of flights have been postponed indefinitely or cancelled by airlines.
Analysis: Chris Davies, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin, AustraliaAnalysis: Chris Davies, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin, Australia
This volcano has been erupting for about a week and it's been streaming ash constantly.This volcano has been erupting for about a week and it's been streaming ash constantly.
It's not an explosive eruption, just a constant stream and because the summit is so high it doesn't take much ash to interfere with flights.It's not an explosive eruption, just a constant stream and because the summit is so high it doesn't take much ash to interfere with flights.
The most dangerous aspect for aviation is that modern jet engines pull in so much air and the ash concentrates in engines and turns into a kind of molten glass.The most dangerous aspect for aviation is that modern jet engines pull in so much air and the ash concentrates in engines and turns into a kind of molten glass.
The ash melts, coats inside of the engine and affects fuel flow, so in the worst case scenario it can cause engines to shut off, like we say with the BA 009.The ash melts, coats inside of the engine and affects fuel flow, so in the worst case scenario it can cause engines to shut off, like we say with the BA 009.
Travellers left stranded in BaliTravellers left stranded in Bali
Ash cloud delays: What are your rights?
The BBC's Alice Budisatrijo in Jakarta says the airport closures could not have come at a worse time, as the islands are popular with foreign and domestic tourists in the middle of the school holiday season.The BBC's Alice Budisatrijo in Jakarta says the airport closures could not have come at a worse time, as the islands are popular with foreign and domestic tourists in the middle of the school holiday season.
Indonesians are also starting to travel home for the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, so the disruption of flights to the smaller airports are being felt by many families, says our correspondent.Indonesians are also starting to travel home for the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, so the disruption of flights to the smaller airports are being felt by many families, says our correspondent.
Victoria Welsby, from the UK, has been stranded at Denpasar airport since Thursday when her flight to Cairns was cancelled. American expat Katie Nagar described arriving at the domestic terminal at Denpasar to discover her flight to Jakarta on Indonesian flag carrier Garuda had been cancelled and rescheduled to Sunday.
She told AFP: "There's basically just hundreds of people camped out on the grassy lawns in front of the airport.
"There's lines of hundreds of people waiting to talk to customer service."
Victoria Welsby, from the UK, has been stranded at Denpasar airport since Thursday, when her flight to Cairns was cancelled.
She told the BBC that she was "completely in limbo" and "cannot do anything more" after Jetstar put her on an outbound flight that is only leaving in 10 days.She told the BBC that she was "completely in limbo" and "cannot do anything more" after Jetstar put her on an outbound flight that is only leaving in 10 days.
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