People in Bali, Indonesia are all in a state of panic, as Mount Agung, one of the biggest volcanoes on the island have started rumbling. The volcano is expected to erupt at any moment and Governor of Bali, I Made Mangku Pastika has declared a state of emergency in the island till October 16.
When will Mount Agung erupt?
The swarm activity began on September 29, 2017, emitting a small plume of water vapor. However, no ash cloud was emitted. Devy Kamil, senior seismologist, in a recent talk with BBC told that it is difficult to predict the exact time of the eruption, even though the swarm activity has begun.
Kamil told that there are so many examples where the swarm activities last as long as six years. He added that many times the swarm activities have not ended up with an eruption.
Predicted Damage
Indonesian authorities have made all necessary arrangements to prevent casualties if the volcano erupts. As of now, Bali's National Disaster Agency has evacuated more than 1,30,000 people to the exclusion zone 7.5 kilometers away from the volcano. Most of the people residing in the area are farmers and they consider cows as their major source of income.
Indonesian authorities are worried about the fact that many people are going near the volcano to care for their cows left behind.
The last time Mount Agung erupted was on 1963. The eruption was huge and drastic which resulted in the killing of more than 2000 people. The volcano explosion was too large and it destroyed numerous villages surrounding the area.
Bali's National Disaster Agency is well aware of the casualties which may happen in case of an eruption and they are trying their best to reduce the scale of damage in times of emergency.
The authorities have also diverted flights away from the island. The Indonesian Foreign Office has informed the travelers in the nation stating that evacuations and flight disruptions are possible.
"In the event of an eruption and volcanic ash clouds, which could cause flight disruptions, you should confirm your travel arrangements directly with your airline or travel agent before traveling to the airport," said the recently issued statement.
