Bali Volcano Eruption: Airport Reopens after Mount Agung Erupts

BALI's highest volcano, Mount Agung, is sending hot volcanic ash 2,500 metres into the air following the eruption on Thursday, causing major disruption to international flights as the airport serving the island closed for several hours.

Meanwhile the International Federation for the Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC) is on standby to launch an international relief operation, with loca operatives already in the process of handing out facemasks.

A number of international flights have been cancelled after the Mount Agung volcano began spewing water vapour and ash two kilometres into the air.

The Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, also known as Denpasar airport, was shut down at 3am on June 29 local time (8.00pm June 28 GMT) due to the lack of visibility provoked by the ash cloud.

It subsequently reopened, with the airport tweeting: "Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is reopen on June, 29th 2018 at 14.30 LT.

"The operational should be back to normal soon. Please stay update for further information."

A statement released by the airport earlier had said: "Denpasar Airport is currently closed and we are monitoring the advice from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and our team of senior pilots and meteorologists will make an assessment when flights can be resumed.

"While these disruptions are frustrating, we always put safety first."