Bali: Danger zone shrinks

The national volcanology agency said a new crack had been detected in the volcano's crater floor. Photo / AP

Many of the more than 140,000 people who have left their homes to escape a potential volcanic eruption on Indonesia's resort island of Bali are not in danger and should go home, officials said yesterday.

Villagers fled their homes near Mt Agung after authorities raised the volcano's alert to the highest level on September 22, following a sharp increase in activity.

"The Bali governor has told evacuees from 51 villages that are considered safe to return home," said Sutopo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.

Only 70,000 people live in areas designated as dangerous by the government, Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika said.

"I can guarantee that those living outside the vulnerable areas are safe," the state-run Antara news agency quoted him as saying.

More than 18,000 cows belonging to villagers would be evacuated from the exclusion zone using trucks, Sutopo said.

"Some villagers refused to be evacuated unless their cows come with them," he said. "For them, cows are part of their lives."

The national volcanology agency said a new crack had been detected in the volcano's crater floor, indicating that magma was reaching closer to the surface, and that the volcano had emitted white smoke.

An initial eruption is likely to be small, and may be followed by a bigger one, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the Royal Australian Navy will join efforts to rescue residents amid a volcanic eruption threat on Vanuatu's Ambae Island.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said HMAS Choules left Australia yesterday with specialists, supplies and landing craft aboard.

It will reach Vanuatu mid-week and join a fleet of ships including ferries and commercial vessels, which have begun moving 11,000 people to nearby islands.

The evacuees represent five per cent of Vanuatu's population.

The volcano, known as Manaro, began to erupt last week.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia has also committed A$250,000 ($272,000) towards food, water, shelter and hygiene kits as well as aerial surveillance of affected areas.

Australian Air Force aircraft, army and navy helicopters and army engineering equipment and personnel are on standby.

- AAP