DENPASAR, Indonesia: Thousands of foreign tourists were leaving Bali by plane on Thursday after an airport shutdown sparked by a rumbling volcano, but some visitors were irate at not being able to get off the Indonesian island paradise sooner.
The alert level on Mount Agung remains at maximum. But a change in wind direction blew towering columns of ash and smoke away from the airport, prompting authorities to re-open the island’s main international gateway on Wednesday afternoon.
That opened an eagerly awaited window for some of the 120,000 tourists stranded after the surge in volcanic activity grounded hundreds of flights, sparking travel chaos and forcing the evacuation of villagers living in the mountain’s shadow.
Ash is dangerous for planes as it makes runways slippery and can be sucked into their engines.
“Things are gradually getting back to normal,” said Bali airport spokesman Israwadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
But that wasn’t much comfort to some visitors who came to relax in one of the world’s top travel destinations but have instead faced repeated flight cancellations, battles over insurance and torrential rain that has lashed the island.
“I have been stranded since Monday night,” said Australian Donna Lay.
“We have travel insurance, but mine doesn’t cover volcano so I’m just living off my money. I’m covered for health (insurance) but not for accommodation.”
Indonesian visitor Yayan was running out of patience.
“I have been waiting since November 27 (Monday),” said the man, whose flight has been cancelled multiple times.
“I got no e-mail or notification from the airline...They should have told me. I am at loss because I have to postpone my business — I have jobs that I need to handle.”
More than 4,500 people have now flown out of Bali’s main airport, authorities said, with around 3,200 of them on international flights.
However, the airport on nearby Lombok island — also a popular tourist destination — closed again on Thursday after ash and smoke drifted in its direction. — AFP
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