Flights to and from Bali from Australia have been cancelled as a dangerous ash cloud from a volcano eruption covers the sky near the holiday destination.
Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar flights have been cancelled on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving passengers stranded.
On Wednesday morning, a 7:10am flight out of Melbourne was cancelled just half an hour before its departure time.
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All Jetstar flights to Denpasar airport up to 2pm on Wednesday have been cancelled.
“Due to volcanic ash caused by Mount Lewotobi in Indonesia, it is currently not safe to operate to and from Bali,” Jetstar said.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide an update on flights scheduled to operate after 1400 AEDT as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Virgin said flights on Tuesday were cancelled to prioritise passengers’ safety.
“The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
“We regret the inconvenience this has caused our passengers, and our team is working hard to ensure all passengers booked on our services get to their destination safely and as soon as possible.”
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki has erupted for several days, resulting in thick, black ash and smoke cover.
Volcanic ash has risen to 10 metres altitude, with fireballs and debris falling on neighbouring villages.
Nine people have died, and more than 15,000 locals close to the crater have been evacuated.