Residents evacuate as fears of larger Mount Agung eruption grow

Evacuations are continuing on the resort island of Bali. Indonesia raised the alert level for an erupting Mount Agung to its highest level as smoke and ash pour from the volcano. Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands.

CGTN’s Silkina Ahluwalia reports.

At least 22 villages are in Mount Agung’s danger zone, which extends up to 10 kilometers from the volcano’s crater.

The national disaster mitigation agency said magma flows are a possibility, and there is a chance of a bigger eruption, though it will likely not be as big as the last in 1963. Molten rock from that explosion reached as far as 20 kilometers from the mountain. This time, predictions place the range closer to 5 kilometers.

But any sign of another eruption could heavily impact tourism in Indonesia’s most popular holiday spot.

Photos: Indonesia Volcano erupts

Indonesia Bali Volcano
A view of Mount Agung volcano erupting in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
A man sits at a temple with the Mount Agung volcano erupting in the background in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
A family on a motorcycle passes by the Mount Agung volcano erupting in the background in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
Clouds of ashes rise from the Mount Agung volcano erupting in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
Tourists watch the Mount Agung volcano erupting in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
A tourist poses for a photo with Mount Agung volcano erupting as they visit a temple in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesian authorities raised the alert for a rumbling volcano on Bali to the highest level on Monday, stranding tens of thousands of travelers as ash clouds forced the closure of the tourist island's international airport. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
A view of the Mount Agung volcano erupting in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on the tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Indonesia Bali Volcano
A view of the Mount Agung volcano erupting in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. The volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali erupted for the second time in a week on Saturday, disrupting international flights even as authorities said the island remains safe. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati

Indonesia Bali Volcano
Clouds of ashes raise from the Mount Agung volcano erupting in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed the international airport on tourist island of Bali stranding thousands of travelers. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Elementary school children play outside of their classrooms as mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash as seen from Karo, North Sumatra province, on February 10, 2017. Many residents in the area have been forced to relocate to other villages of Northern Sumatra at a safer distance from mount Sinabung volcano, one of the most active in Indonesia.
STR / AFP — Indonesia Bali Volcano
Elementary school children play outside of their classrooms as mount Sinabung volcano spews thick volcanic ash as seen from Karo, North Sumatra province, on February 10, 2017. Many residents in the area have been forced to relocate to other villages of Northern Sumatra at a safer distance from mount Sinabung volcano, one of the most active in Indonesia. STR / AFP

Balinese people ride on an open car past Mount Agung erupting seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on November 27, 2017. An eruption could be imminent at the volcano belching huge plumes of smoke on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, officials warned, as they raised the alert to the highest level and increased the exclusion zone.
SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP — Indonesia Bali Volcano
Balinese people ride on an open car past Mount Agung erupting seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on November 27, 2017. An eruption could be imminent at the volcano belching huge plumes of smoke on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, officials warned, as they raised the alert to the highest level and increased the exclusion zone. SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Balinese Hindus take part in a ceremony, where they pray near Mount Agung in hope of preventing a volcanic eruption, in Muntig village of the Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on November 26, 2017. A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sent plumes of grey smoke and steam thousands of metres into the air on November 26 for the third day in a week, triggering flight cancellations which have left thousands of tourists stranded, officials said Sunday.
SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP — Indonesia Bali Volcano
Balinese Hindus take part in a ceremony, where they pray near Mount Agung in hope of preventing a volcanic eruption, in Muntig village of the Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on November 26, 2017. A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sent plumes of grey smoke and steam thousands of metres into the air on November 26 for the third day in a week, triggering flight cancellations which have left thousands of tourists stranded, officials said Sunday. SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

General view of Mount Agung during an eruption seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on November 26, 2017. Mount Agung belched smoke as high as 1,500 metres above its summit, sparking an exodus from settlements near the mountain.
SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP — Indonesia Bali Volcano
General view of Mount Agung during an eruption seen from Kubu sub-district in Karangasem Regency, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on November 26, 2017. Mount Agung belched smoke as high as 1,500 metres above its summit, sparking an exodus from settlements near the mountain. SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

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Bali’s Lombok International Airport is facing severe disruptions. At times the facility has been completely closed or offered only limited service.

The main tourist areas outside of the danger zone’s 10 kilometer radius are considered safe, but the travelers are still concerned they won’t be able to leave Bali and return to their homes.

Authorities are working with local communities and visitors to make sure they are prepared if the mountain erupts further.

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Residents evacuate as fears of larger Mount Agung eruption grow

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