Jakarta — Nearly 10 000 villagers have left their homes around the Mount Agung volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali because of a possible eruption.
Officials raised the alert status of the volcano on Monday to the second highest level and recommended people stay 6 kilometres (3.8 miles) from the crater, and up to 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) away to the north, southeast and south-southwest.
Volunteers prepare a temporary shelter in Bali, Indonesia. Picture: AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said Friday that some 9 400 villagers have evacuated from their houses and were scattered in 50 shelters in the districts of Karangasem, Klungkung and Buleleng.
Indonesian evacuees sit at a temporary shelter in Bali, Indonesia. Picture: AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati
The 3 031-metre (9 944-foot) Agung, located about 72 kilometres (45 miles) to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, last erupted in 1963, killing 1 100 people and hurling ash as high as 10 kilometres (6 miles).