Airlines ground Bali flights after volcano erupts

By AFP
|
November 14, 2024
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki spews ash and smoke during an eruption as seen from Lewolaga village in Titihena, East Nusa Tenggara, on November 13, 2024. — AFP

DENPASAR, Indonesia: Airlines cancelled flights to and from the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Wednesday, leaving travellers stranded after a nearby volcano catapulted an ash tower miles into the sky.

At least 16 international routes were affected after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores island spewed a nine-kilometre tower a day earlier, the general manager of Bali´s international airport said in a statement.

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Flights from Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, India, Australia, Malaysia, China´s Pudong and South Korea´s Incheon were all either delayed or grounded, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab said on Wednesday.

Animal clinic worker Samsudin, 52, from Indonesia´s main island was transiting in Bali to Malaysia and forced to spend the night at the airport.

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