PUTRAJAYA: The Foreign Ministry, through its Embassy in Jakarta, is closely monitoring volcanic activity at Bali’s Mount Agung, which intensified over the weekend since an initial eruption on Nov 21.
According to reports, the mountain is spewing smoke thousands of metres into the sky and raining ash on the district of Kabupaten Karangasem, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and the shutting down of the Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
"Malaysians are therefore advised to defer non-urgent travel to Bali.
"(Those) affected by the disaster are encouraged to report to the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta and to follow instructions issued by the local authorities accordingly," the Ministry said in a statement.
Malaysians requiring consular assistance are advised to contact the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta at Jalan H.R Rasuna Said, Kav. X/6, No. 1-3, Kuningan, 12950 South Jakarta; or call +62 215 224 947/+62 813 808 130 36 (after working hours); or email mwjakarta@kln.gov.my.
Malaysians can also contact the Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Bali at Puri Kumara Sakti, Jalan Bentuyung Ubud, Gianyar, 90571; or call +62 361 973 182/ +62 812 371 540 50 or e-mail balihcmalaysia@gmail.com.
It was reported that cold lava flows, also known as lahar, are expected to increase in the coming days.
“Watch out for lahar floods (cold lava) around Mt Agung. Lahar floods have already occurred in several places on the slopes,” Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Twitter.