Indonesia's Mount Agung has erupted for the second time this week leaving thousands of passengers flying in and out of Bali stranded.
Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas announced flight cancellations as they are unwilling to risk flying through ash to reach their destination, with customers forced to sleep at Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Airlines have issued a 'red warning' after the volcano emitted a thick plume of smoke reaching 4,000m (13,100 feet).
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"Tourism in Bali is still safe, except in the danger (zone) around Mount Agung," Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency said in a statement yesterday.
"There has not been an increase in seismic and volcanic activity after the (Tuesday) eruption and until this afternoon."
The agency called for calm among the local community. Around 25,000 people have been evacuated from the 'danger zone' on the slopes of Agung to hundreds of refuge shelters.
On Saturday Jetstar diverted three flights heading to Bali and cancelled six flights ready to leave the island.
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"Following an eruption of the Mount Agung volcano in Bali, Indonesia, it is not currently safe to operate flights around Denpasar Airport," the airline said in a statement.
"As a result we have cancelled flights to and from Bali this evening. Three flights that were en route to Bali have returned to Australia."
Credit: PA Images
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When the volcano last erupted in 1963, it killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed several villages, remaining one of the largest and most devastating eruptions in the Southeast Asian country's history.
Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other country, including some of the world's most famous, such as: Krakatau (Krakatoa), Tambora, and Merapi.
Topics: flight, Plane, News, Volcano
