Eruption of Java volcano sparks air travel chaos

Ash spewing from a volcano on Indonesia's main island of Java has left thousands of tourists stranded on Bali, as airports close and international airlines cancel flights.

Mount Raung in East Java province about 150 kilometers from Bali's international airport has been rumbling for several weeks. The level of activity increased in the past week and on Friday it blasted ash and debris 3,800 meters into the air.

Government vulcanologist Gede Suantika said the eruption has forced authorities to close five airports due to the risks posed by volcanic ash. The Transport Ministry has told airlines to avoid routes near the mountain.

Suantika said ash fall from the 3,332-meter-high mountain on Indonesia's most densely populated island has also resulted in the government urging people to stay away from a three-kilometer high-danger zone around the volcano.

Evacuation of residents living near the volcano is still unnecessary, but authorities urged people to wear masks.

Volcanic eruptions can cause significant and lengthy disruption to travel. A 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokul volcano produced an ash cloud that caused a week of international aviation chaos, and more than 100,000 canceled flights.

"Ash can clog engines and harm other parts of the aircraft," said Transport Ministry spokesman Julius Adravida Barata. "For the sake of passenger safety, we have to close five airports."

Airports on the islands of Bali and Lombok as well as airports at Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java have been closed since late Thursday. Flights were canceled until late Friday, which could be extended if the ash worsens. Barata said thousands of travelers are stranded.

Flights within Indonesia were already overbooked as tens of millions of the country's Muslims pour out of major cities to return to their villages during an annual mass exodus to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

The volcano has proved problematic for Australians, who flock to Bali during Australia's school holidays.

Dozens of flights between Australia and Bali's Ngurah Rai airport by Australian carriers Jetstar and Virgin Australia have been canceled in the past week.

At Bali's international airport, some tourists slept on benches or stood at flight information boards filled with "postponed" and "delayed" notifications. Some complained of a lack of information about their delayed flights.

"The airline can't tell us if we're going to be here tonight or fly tomorrow," said Charmaine Scott, an Australian vacationer. "This is really difficult for us. We have to basically find some way to stay."