SINGAPORE, Nov 29 — Defer travel plans to Bali until the situation involving the Mount Agung volcano improves, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said in its second travel advisory on the popular Indonesian holiday destination in a week.
“MFA will continue to provide consular assistance to Singaporeans who are stranded in Bali…Singaporeans currently in Bali should continue to monitor developments closely, and avoid Mount Agung and its vicinity,” the ministry said yesterday, following a similar advisory last week which an Indonesian official deemed “excessive”.
The Indonesian authorities have raised the alert for Mount Agung to the highest level, and the international airport in Bali remains closed amid fears of an imminent “larger eruption”.
Mount Agung, located about 70km from the Bali airport, has continued erupting yesterday, sending plumes of smoke and ash about 3,000m above the crater. Its explosions can be heard about 12km away.
Volcanic ash poses a deadly threat to aircraft, and ash from Mount Agung is moving south-southwest toward the airport.
Several airlines, including Singapore Airlines and AirAsia, said yesterday that flights to Bali remain cancelled.
Tens of thousands of travellers, including those from Singapore, are stranded.
The MFA urged Singaporeans in the affected areas to inform their family and friends of their whereabouts, as well as to e-Register at its portal so that it could contact them if the need arises.
“You are advised to wait for the airport to be re-opened before resuming your travels from Bali.
“You are also advised to take all necessary precautions for your personal safety, monitor the local news closely and heed the instructions of the local authorities.”
Meanwhile, the airline Scoot said in a Facebook post yesterday that it has managed to charter coaches to transport its passengers overland from Bali to Surabaya.
These passengers will then be flown back to Singapore via its flights from Surabaya.
The coaches are scheduled to depart from Bali’s Denpasar airport at 1.30pm local time yesterday and the journey — which includes a ferry crossing — will take about 18 hours.
Passengers who want to depart Bali this way should show their valid travel documents and luggage at Scoot’s counters at the airport.
“We seek passengers’ understanding that seats on the coaches are limited and Scoot reserves the right to priortise passengers with needs,” said the airline.
“Unless otherwise stated, coaches from (today) onwards will depart at 10am local time.” — TODAY
