Indonesia's Bali volcano erupts, spewing 1-km ash

JAKARTA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Bali volcano of Mount Agung erupted on Friday, emitting 1,000 meter of volcanic ash that towering up into the air from the crater, an Indonesian agency said here.

The eruption occurred at 18:27 p.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA), lasted for one minute and 23 seconds with maximum amplitude of 23 millimeter as recorded in seismograph instrument, Indonesia's Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) said in a statement.

"The column of ash was dark grey, heading to the west direction," Head of Mitigation Section at

PVMBG Eastern Region Devy Kamil Alisyahbana said in the statement.

The alert status of the volcano that standing tall over 3,000 meters above sea level is still set at Level III from top alert of Level IV.

The red zone, which now set at a radius of four km from the volcano summit, could be reset anytime due to the latest eruption.

"The zone is dynamic, it can be changed anytime, based on the latest actual observation on the field," he said.

Trekkers, tourists and residents are advised not to climb up the volcano or doing unnecessary activities within the danger zone.

Residents were also cautioned from possible secondary impacts from the eruption due to the raging flow in rivers that channeling volcanic materials from top of the volcano.