More Than 120,000 People Flee Volcano In Bali

More than 120,000 people flee volcano in Bali

A massive evacuation is under way on the Indonesian island of Bali as more than 120,000 flee a smoking volcano which appears on the brink of erupting.

Scientists say a dramatic increase in the number of tremors indicates a potentially catastrophic eruption of Mount Agung is 'imminent'.

Evacuees have been relocated across the resort island, taking shelter in temporary camps, sports centres and other public buildings.

An exclusion zone around the mountain extends as far as 7.5 miles from the crater but people further from the volcano are also leaving in fear for their live

Villagers rest at a temporary evacuation centre for people living near Mount Agung, Bali. They can be seen sleeping next to their belongings on matresses

Officials estimate there are at least 30,000 cows within a 12-kilometre radius of the mountain's summit, and efforts to relocate them are ongoing. 'We've set a target to evacuate 20,000 more cows from the affected areas,' Nugroho said.

The animals are extremely valuable to the evacuees - mostly farmers - some of whom have refused to leave the danger zone, the spokesman said.

The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said Mount Agung was highly active on Thursday, recording 125 volcanic earthquakes between 12am (6pm BST) and 6am.

'If we look at the magnitude, it continues to increase, yesterday we also felt several quakes with the magnitude of three on the Richter scale,' said Kasbani, head volcanologist at the centre.  

Tourists on the party island famed for its beaches have told how they were woken up in the middle of the night and evacuated from their hotels.