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Volcanic ash causes Indonesia airport closures Indonesia volcanic ash causes new Bali airport closure
(2 days later)
Three airports in Indonesia, including in the tourist hotspot Bali, are to remain shut until at least Saturday, after a volcanic eruption. The airport on the Indonesian island of Bali has been forced to shut again due to ash from a volcanic eruption, authorities say.
The transport ministry said Denpasar airport would remain closed until at least 16:00 (08:00 GMT).
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.
Bali's Denpasar airport, a top destination for Australians, was closed late on Thursday, stranding travellers. Bali is a top destination for tourists and many have been stranded.
The government said this and two small airports in East Java would stay shut. The airport had been reopened on Saturday as the ash lifted but the wind has now brought it back.
Earlier advice had been that all airports would remain out of action until late Friday. "We will continue to monitor developments and decide if the closure will be extended later," transport ministry spokesman JA Barata told Agence France-Presse.
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. Mount Raung is about 120km (75 miles) from Denpasar airport.
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. East Java's Blimbingsari and Notohadinegoro airports were also earlier affected.
Lombok's international airport, and a smaller one on the island, were re-opened earlier on Friday. Lombok's international airport, and a smaller one on the island, were reopened earlier on Friday.
Hundreds of flights have been postponed indefinitely or cancelled by airlines.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?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.
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.