Bali’s rumbling volcano spurs travel warnings from Australia, Singapore

KARANGASEM/INDONESIA: Fears that a volcano could erupt imminently on the holiday island of Bali prompted several countries to issue travel warnings, while Indonesian authorities raced to evacuate tens of thousands of people living in the “danger zone”.

Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and the UK issued advisories on Monday and at the weekend warning that increased volcanic activity at Mount Agung in eastern Bali could disrupt flights at one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

“Given the possible eruption of Mount Agung, Singaporeans should defer non-essential travel to the affected areas at this juncture,” the foreign ministry said in an online statement.

Bali’s international airport was operating normally on Monday, as were tourist spots across the island.

Indonesian authorities have imposed a 12-km (7.5 miles)exclusion zone around the crater.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Monday that around 62,000 people lived within the “danger zone” around the volcano and that they all needed to evacuate, though so far only 50,00 had moved to the temporary shelters provided in neighboring villages.

“There are some who are staying behind because the volcano hasn’t erupted yet or because of religious beliefs,” said BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

“Our staff are combing the area and urging everyone to evacuate,” he said, speaking at a news conference in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Nugroho said Mount Agung has entered a “critical phase”, meaning magma has risen closer to the surface, as indicated by hundreds of shallow volcanic tremors that have rattled the area in recent days.

Evacuees are being housed in makeshift shelters like town halls and school gyms. Host communities were providing food and water, while the central and local governments were providing tents, blankets and other relief.

Officials have urged the public to remain calm amid false reports and videos circulating online of an eruption.

Indonesia, which sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, has nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country. Many Indonesians live near volcanoes because lava flows can make the surrounding soil and land fertile for farming.

Comments

Kohli hails India’s new spin duo ahead of NZ ODI series

India captain Virat Kohli has praised new spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal and is tempted to play them together in India’s one-day series opener against New Zealand in Mumbai on Sunday. Left-arm wrist spinner Yadav and right-arm leg break bowler Chahal have established themselves as India’s first-choice attacking combination, keeping veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja out for the third consecutive limited-overs series.Yadav and Chahal combined to pick up 13 wickets in India’s recent 4-1 ODI series victory over Australia. “We need to find our best bowling combination before we reach the World Cup (in 2019) stage,” Kohli told reporters on Saturday. “We always had in mind to bring wrist spinners into play. We honestly did not think of playing the two together but they are so good together, it is tempting to play them in every game. “Ashwin and Jadeja have played limited-overs cricket for last six-seven years regularly. These youngsters have stepped up

Nepal should benefit from China’s prosperity: Chinese envoy

KATHMANDU: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong has said that Nepal should reap benefits from the prosperity of China. Nepal could be benefited from China’s prosperity in various sectors including trade, investment and connectivity as Nepal has already joined China-proposed One Belt and One Road Initiatives (OBOR), she said.In a press meet organized on the occasion of 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Sino-Nepal Relations by Embassy of China in Kathmandu, the Chinese envoy shared that China was supporting Nepal on the basis of equal treatment, mutual cooperation and shared development framework. She further shared that Sino-Nepal relations has strengthened further in these days adding that the high-level exchange of visits, feasibility study on railway in Nepal, increasing the number of Nepalis students in China indicate the robust bilateral ties. Chinese Ambassador Yu said that China was working out to resume Tatopani border point and to smoothly operat

ACC U-19: Nepal clinch historic 19-run victory over India ACC U-19 ASIA CUP TOURNAMENT

KATHMANDU: Nepal put on a scintillating display of both batting and bowling to stun the tournament favorites India with 19-run victory during the ACC U-19 Asia Cup held at the Bayuemas Oval in Pandamaran, Klang, Malaysia on Sunday. With today’s victory, defeating test playing nation India in any category, Nepal kept its hope alive of advancing into the semi-final of the tournament. Nepal, coached by former bowler and captain Binod Das, successfully defended their 188 runs, by bowling out India, coached by former captain Rahul Dravid, for 166 runs in 49 overs of their allotted 50 overs, to emerge with 19 runs victory, in the crucial encounter. Nepali skipper Dipendra Singh Airee played a captains knocks of 88 runs in just over 100 deliveries with six hit to the fence and a towering six over a cow corner before returning with the ball to torment Indian’s innings with four scalps. Man-of-the-match, Airee’s defiance with the bat and ball, single-handedly propelled Nepal

Nepalinews

Search This Blog