Yahoo – AFP,
Bagus SARAGIH, November 28, 2017
The structure of a typical volcano and the phases of an eruption (AFP Photo/Patrice Deré) |
Denpasar
(Indonesia) (AFP) - Cancelled flights, missed connections and expiring visas
have turned Bali into a nightmare for thousands of tourists scrambling to leave,
as a volcano on the Indonesian vacation paradise threatens a major eruption.
Hundreds of
flights have been grounded as the main international airport was shuttered for
a second day on Tuesday, leaving 120,000 stranded visitors in need of shelter
-- or an exit plan.
Hundreds
joined the mad rush to board buses headed to an international airport in
Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya -- 13 hours' drive and a ferry ride
away -- as torrential rains dampened spirits even more in one the world's top
tourist draws.
The
imminent eruption of Mount Agung may mean more five-star hotel living for some
well-heeled visitors who are happy to sit out the minor inconvenience, but
Mukesh Kumar Gupta and two-dozen members of his family aren't going to be
staying at the Four Seasons.
"We
are practically helpless -- how can we get back to India?" said the
Chennai-based member of the heaving 26-member clan.
Gupta's
family -- 23 adults and three kids -- arrived in Bali 10 days ago from
different Indian cities.
They were
all supposed to fly back Tuesday but now they say they are stuck, and nearly
broke, as chaos ensued at the airport with frustrated travellers and
overwhelmed staff.
"The
refund money (from the airline) won't be enough to buy us new tickets,"
another family member, Navin Saraf from Kolkata, told AFP at Bali's main
airport.
"We
booked everything online beforehand, so we don't have much cash right
now," he added.
Towering
columns of thick grey smoke have been rising from Agung since last week, and in
the last few days the volcano has begun shooting smoke and ash into the sky,
forcing all flights to be grounded until at least Wednesday morning.
Ash is
dangerous for planes as it makes runways slippery and can be sucked into their
engines.
'Nobody's fault'
A flight information board shows the list of delayed flights due to the volcano at the Ngurah Rai International airport in Denpasar, Bali on November 28, 2017 (AFP Photo/ JUNI KRISWANTO) |
'Nobody's fault'
Agung is 75
kilometres (47 miles) from the beach-and-sandal tourist hub of Kuta, but that
wasn't making German student Alex Thamm feel much better.
"We
are supposed to go back to Germany via Singapore on (Friday) but the situation
seems not good," he said nervously.
"Is it
dangerous here? Do you think [the volcano] will explode?"
The delays
weren't putting a smile on Juan Gajun's face either, after he missed a
connecting flight Monday.
"We
have to leave the island and we can't. We were planning to go to Singapore but
we have to stay here for I don't know, maybe two or three days more," said
the 30-year-old Argentine.
Colin Cavy,
a French dive master who has been in Indonesia for a couple of months, had
other problems.
"I've
just come to Bali two days ago to leave the country," he told AFP.
"My
visa has expired...I need to go to the immigration office."
Meanwhile,
cash-strapped Gupta and his bulging brood were weighing their options, which he
lamented would not include help from India's consulate in Bali.
"No
one can beat nature, but at least people can help," said Gupta's relative
Abhisek Garg, who lives in Delhi.
They might
want to call inn operator I Wayan Yastina Joni, who is among the few hoteliers
willing to take up an appeal by Bali's governor and tourism agency to supply
free rooms to out-of-luck visitors.
"I
don't mind giving free accommodation for tourists I already know," said
the owner of the Pondok Denayu Homestay.
"This
is nobody's fault. It's a natural disaster that no one expected."
Tourists scramble to leave Bali as a volcano on the Indonesian vacation paradise threatens a major eruption https://t.co/ChsKBVmiKs pic.twitter.com/tL3uJQZrgX— AFP news agency (@AFP) November 28, 2017