Bali flights cancelled after Indonesian volcano eruption causes massive plume
This eruption caused the cancellation of several international flights between Australia and Bali, and officials have warned of potential destructive volcanic mudslides.
The volcano's alert status remains at its highest, following a series of eruptions since November, including one that killed nine people and injured dozens.
Indonesia's volcanology agency raised the alert level in June due to surging tremors, leading to an 8km exclusion zone and the evacuation of local residents.
Situated on the Pacific"Ring of Fire," Indonesia is home to 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences seismic activity, posing significant danger to aircraft from volcanic ash.
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The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
The pitfalls of volcano trekking in Guatemala – and why travellers still can't resist the pull of nature's mighty fire show
Three days before I'm due to summit Guatemala 's Acatenango volcano, a text pings on my phone. It's from my tour guide: 'Tours are currently cancelled, will update with more information as soon as possible.' Earlier that day, neighbouring volcano Fuego – one of the most active in Central America – had erupted, violently spewing lava, ash and rock, prompting Guatemala authorities to evacuate more than a thousand people from nearby communities. This explained the grey fog that had descended across Antigua, the colonial-era city I was staying in, just 16km from Fuego's slopes. The clear blues skies that once painted a perfect backdrop to the city's famously stunning Spanish Baroque architecture had now turned a heavy charcoal. Before the eruption, my plan had been to hike 3,976m up Acatenango – an active but 'quiet' volcano that hasn't erupted in nearly a century. I'd been warned the trek would be tough: the first day involved 4-5 hours of steady, steep climbing to reach base camp. The next morning, we were to wake well before sunrise and trek another hour or two to the summit, where panoramic views of the still-smoking Fuego typically steal the show. Now, that seemed increasingly unlikely. But if nothing else, the sudden cancellation was a stark reminder of how unpredictable volcano trekking really is. While I had opted for Acatenango, many hikers venture closer to Fuego's infamous 'knife-ridge,' a narrow trail flanked by 500m drops on either side. The eruption had cast a spotlight on the risks that come with such exhilarating adventures. In recent years, volcano tourism has surged in popularity. Adventurous travellers are flocking to hotspots like Iceland, Italy, and Guatemala for a front-row seat to the raw drama of nature. Fuego, in fact, has erupted multiple times in the past few years, including as recently as March and June 2025. Similarly, Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, has been spewing lava and ash on and off throughout the year. Perhaps most dramatically, Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano roared back to life in March 2021 after lying dormant for over 800 years. In the six months that followed, more than 356,000 visitors came to see the eruption, according to the Icelandic Tourism Board. The pull is undeniable. There's something deeply primal about watching the earth crack open and fire spill forth – an experience that combines awe with a subtle undercurrent of danger. But volcano tourism also carries very real risks. This June, a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist was found dead after falling while hiking near the crater of an active volcano in Indonesia. Efforts were hampered to reach her by the extreme terrain and weather conditions. On 3 June 2018, Fuego erupted catastrophically. Fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic matter raced down the mountainside, devastating nearby villages. The official death toll stood at 218, but with thousands more reported missing, many locals believe the true figure is significantly higher. The tragedy prompted an overhaul in safety protocols, said Ox Expeditions, which runs several hiking tours to both Acatenango and Fuego. 'The most tragic thing about the eruption is that with proper warning systems and education many of the deaths could have been avoided,' the organisation said. 'Since the eruption lots of volcano monitoring equipment has been donated and many more studies are being conducted. These are looking at how to improve warning systems and educate the local people living in high risk areas so as to reduce loss of life in future eruptions.' Despite the risks, for many visitors the chance to climb an active volcano is too compelling to pass up. Chloe Steuer, a backpacker from the UK travelling across Guatemala, described her hike up Acatenango as one of the highlights of her trip. 'Everyone in town was talking about it,' she told me. 'I was excited to get into nature and see something as incredible as an active volcano.' Chloe had debated whether to join the hike at all, having heard that Fuego had been quiet for weeks. Another traveller I spoke with had cancelled their trip entirely for that reason. But Chloe went ahead and was glad she did. 'It was a tough, challenging climb to base camp,' she said. 'After we reached it, we had dinner and went to bed in our little huts. Everyone was knackered.' What happened next, however, made it all worthwhile. 'At 3am, we were woken up by what sounded like a bomb. The tin shelters we were sleeping in were shaking. People outside were shouting 'lava!' Me and my friends jumped out of bed. We didn't even put shoes on. We ran outside to see this incredible, fiery eruption happening right in front of us. It was unbelievable.' While it was dramatic, Chloe never felt unsafe: 'The guides were great, and it felt really well organised. I found out later that the group after ours had to be evacuated from base camp because the smoke got too intense, so they clearly have safety procedures in place.' For sure, volcano tourism is an exercise in controlled risk. Operators walk a tightrope between delivering unforgettable experiences and ensuring visitor safety – particularly for countries like Guatemala where so many tourists specifically head to the destination to seek out these natural wonders. For better or worse, the very thing that makes it dangerous is also what makes it unforgettable. Though as my own trip reminds me, sometimes nature gets the final word. Ox Expedition Tours, while Chloe went with Soy Tours Antigua. Getting there You can fly from London to Guatemala City with several airlines, including United, Lufthansa and American Airlines, usually with a connecting flight in the United States. Total flight time is around 16 hours. It's then about an hour drive to Antigua, which can be travelled by bus, shuttle or taxi. Where to stay Robyn was a guest of Pensativo House Hotel in Antigua, which has doubles from around £140 per night, including breakfast. Views of Fuego can be enjoyed from the rooftop restaurant where breakfast is served. There are also plenty of additional hotels and hostels to choose from for all budgets.
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I moved to a holiday paradise with my family but when we came back to the UK I struggled - here's why
A mother who fled the UK with her family to travel the world has shared four key things she 'doesn't miss' about living in Britain. Lucy Argent - along with her partner, Paul, and their three young children - packed up their home in December 2023, rented it out on Airbnb and set on a 'global adventure' that would allow them to 'spend more time together.' The mother registered her children, who were five, four and one years old at the time, with a world school program called Boundless Life. The 'experiential learning-based education system' is designed for families who want to experience living - and learning - in eight locations across the world by providing furnished apartments and homes close to community hubs. Lucy and her family have since had the opportunity to visit far-flung destinations such as Portugal, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Spain, Uruguay and now, Bali, Indonesia. They've documented on Instagram their day-to-day life during their six-month stay on the island - which includes regular outings to beaches, wildlife and water parks. In a recent video, uploaded to their page, @therichardsons04, in December 2024, the family returned to the UK for 10 days to visit family and friends - though Lucy admitted the trip wasn't without struggles. She went on to detail four things the family are happy to leave behind in the UK, starting with the weather. Lucy recalled not only had it 'rained every day' during their return, they also encountered a storm which had caused traffic chaos and led to public transport. She then complained of traffic itself, as she added: 'NO WORD of a lie I spent most of the time in traffic. It was actually soul destroying.' Next, Lucy highlighted the 'rushed' nature of the UK, describing the family's as constantly dashing through the day to catch transport and hurry to each destination up until 'bedtime.' She noted how she hadn't noticed the 'rat race' lifestyle in her native country until she grew accustomed to a 'slower pace of life' in Bali. Lucy finally showcased the price tag of a Bludie pink reindeer decoration, which was on sale in a shop for £15.99, before complaining of the cost of items in Britain. She added: 'One of the main reasons we left was the rising cost of living but this time round it really felt things had got out of control.' It comes as another family sold their home to travel the globe with their three children after becoming 'fed up with the UK education system. ' Chris and Tamira upped sticks with their children, Olivia, 11, Scarlett, nine, and Bella, five, in 2023. Since, they have visited Thailand, China and Malaysia, and are currently exploring Dubai - all while home schooling their three girls. Tamira revealed, via their TikTok account (@thehutchinsons), that they sold their home in January 2023. By May they had hopped on a plane, uprooting their family to travel the world. She told her followers: 'Yes we did sell our family home that we lived in for ten years. 'In 2022 in August we put it up for sale, and it was a really gruelling period not knowing whether it was going to sell or not, and then in January 2023 we got an offer and it was all completed in May.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
‘Don't erase the soul of Bingin': Bali locals dismayed as 48 businesses destroyed in local crackdown
'I can't believe this is happening,' said Komang Agus, looking on in despair at his workplace of 16 years in the Bali tourist hotspot of Bingin, lying in fresh ruins. 'I have a wife, three sons, my father is sick and in the hospital, how am I going to support them?' the manager of Morabito Art Cliff Villa said, his voice cracking and tears welling in his eyes. 'We understand the laws and the need for regulation, but why only here?' Agus spoke to the Guardian shortly after the government embarked on a sweeping crackdown on alleged illegal coastal developments on Indonesia's most popular tourist island. The demolition of 48 cliffside establishments at Bingin beach – ranging from warungs (small eateries) and homestays to boutique villas and restaurants overlooking one of the world's most revered waves – marks a flashpoint in Bali's struggle with mass tourism, overdevelopment and the desire to retain the cultural and surfing heritage that put the island on the global tourist map in the first place. Bingin is being cleared as part of a campaign led by the re-elected governor, Wayan Koster, to enforce zoning regulations and eliminate unregulated structures on protected government-owned land. 'The Bali provincial government is preparing a team to conduct an investigative audit of tourism business permits throughout Bali,' said Koster, hammer in hand at the start of the Bingin demolition in July. 'We cannot allow it. If we let these methods continue throughout Bali, Bali will be ruined.' More than 20 other businesses have also been targeted as allegedly illegal by local authorities at nearby Balangan beach, and others across the Bukit peninsula and beyond may soon face similar action. But for many locals, the loss of Bingin represents a further gutting of a historic and cherished part of the island's surf culture that in many places has been overtaken by mega resorts, shopping strips and beach clubs. Surfers, many of them Australian, began arriving at Bingin in the 1970s and 1980s, attracted by its perfect mechanical left-hand barrel waves. Local families built small warungs on the cliffs to serve them. Among them was Kelly's Warung, established by the family of local professional surfer Mega Semadhi. 'This place feels like home, away from the noise and chaos above – a beautiful beach, beautiful wave and people,' Samadhi told the Guardian. 'There are not many places like this left.' Over time, the area grew and commercialised, with some rooms now renting for over A$200 a night and small family-run businesses morphing into multi-level luxury suites like the towering Morabito Art Cliff boutique hotel, with multiple swimming pools – and one even in its master suite. 'The developments got out of control and people got greedy,' said Semadhi, who lives and works in the village nearby with his wife and two young children. 'We tried to stop it, but the government didn't listen to us [at the time]. And now it's too late.' Semadhi called for the community to be involved in the future of the area. 'If they are going to redo it, we want to do it properly. To return the soul of how it started. If we lose this place, all of Bingin will suffer.' Tourists have also expressed dismay; many gathered on the beach throughout the week after the demolition began, completely unaware of the plans. Several Australian expats said they had been advised against speaking out publicly, with concerns they could be deported. An Australian surfer and local business owner, who first visited Bingin over 30 years ago, described it as a 'very special place'. 'The first time I came down here, we could only eat food and sleep on people's decks. There was something magical about it,' he said. 'Australians were among the first surfers to come here and form a special relationship with the Balinese. There aren't many places like this left.' Business owners – many foreigners, including Australians – say many of the structures existed before zoning rules were formalised and the land became deemed a protected area, and efforts were made to ensure operations were compliant. Alex Barung, a lawyer representing some owners attempting to halt the demolitions, said the community had tried multiple times to resolve the issue and work with the government. 'In 1985, the community realised the tourism potential and built supporting facilities. They lacked capital and so partnered with foreigners – but the businesses came first, before the regulations.' Owners argue that they were operating under customary law, with informal permission from the village to operate. Critics of the demolition – which officials expect to take a month – warn that erasing Bingin risks destroying a unique cultural and social ecosystem. 'This is part of Bali's surfing heritage,' said Piter Panjaitan, a local surfer and environmentalist. 'It became a hotspot, a golden egg of the Bukit peninsula. Now, 1,000 people are losing their jobs overnight. People are crying.' He questioned the transparency and consistency of the government's approach. 'We understand the need to clean up, but why here, and why like this? We want to make Bali better, but we also want social justice.' The demolition highlights challenges in Bali's growth. The island's population has doubled since the 1960s to more than 4 million, and tourist arrivals are projected to hit 6.5 million this year. The government has floated – and abandoned – a moratorium on tourism development, opting instead for tighter controls. Local environmental group Walhi Bali said it supported reining in unregulated growth but criticised 'selective enforcement'. 'From our research, there are many other developments across Bali lacking permits and environmental assessments,' said Walhi Bali's Ida Bagus Arya Yoga Bharata. 'The inconsistency highlights the slow and weak governance in Bali's development planning.' The head of Bali's Public Order Agency, I Dewa Nyoman Rai Darmadi, denied claims that the demolitions were clearing space for luxury developments. 'That's a hoax,' he told the Guardian. He said it was about safety, with many businesses packed into the steep cliff zone and that public land was 'not for business like currently'. 'This is protected land. There's no indication of it being taken over by an investor.' Still, uncertainty looms, even from officials. 'Once it's renovated, it will become an attraction – whether for surfers or something else,' said Governor Koster. 'At the very least, tourists will want to come, and it will contribute to the wellbeing of the local community.' And without a clear plan, locals worry the area could be redeveloped without them. But despite the sadness, Semadhi said he was optimistic about the future. 'If they are going to do it, then maybe we can do it properly this time, a new beginning. But let us be part of it. Don't erase the soul of Bingin.'
