Indonesian authorities warn residents to evacuate as Mount Agung eruption 'imminent'

Indonesia raised warnings for the Mount Agung volcano in Bali to the top level on Monday as cold lava flows (lahar) sent ash flying as high as 30,000 feet into the air and as far away as Denpasar airport.

The major Southeast Asian holiday destination closed its airport for 24 hours amid warnings of an "imminent" large eruption, disrupting 445 flights and the travel plans of some 59,000 passengers; however, officials, who had also advised residents to evacuate the area, said the closure could be extended.

"Plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km from the peak," a statement by the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) read after it had raised the alert level from three to four.

"The potential for a larger eruption is imminent," it said, as a visible glow could be seen from the magma on the mountain's peak overnight.

Residents within an 8-10km radius had been advised to "immediately evacuate" the area, with authorities warning they would relocate residents by force if necessary, as lahar, despite being cold, carries mud and large boulders that can destroy houses, bridges and roads in its wake.

Agung claimed more than 1,000 lives and razed several villages when it last erupted 20km into the air back in 1963.

Roughly 5m people visit Bali each year for its surf, beaches and temples, but tourism had slumped considerably since tremors at Agung began to increase in September.

Denpasar airport's official website listed a total of 196 international flights and 249 domestic flights from the likes of Singapore Airlines, Sriwijaya, Garuda Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines and Jetstar flights as cancelled as airport operators identified ten alternative airports in the region to handle the traffic.