Jakarta, 30 October 2017 --- Mount Agung status has been lowered to Alert level. Refugees whose homes are located further than 6 to 7 km from the mountain are allowed to return home. "Head of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) reported that at 4 pm Central Indonesia Time Mount Agung was lowered from Danger to Alert," said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan to the press (20/29).

However, residents and climbers/visitors/tourists are adviced to keep away from the Hazard Zone within 6 km radius of the crater and 7.5 km to the North, Northeast, Southeast, South, Southwest of the crater. The Hazard Zone is dynamic, regularly evaluated, and can change at any time according to the monitoring data result.

Other impacted areas are Br. Belong, Pucang, Pengalusan (Ban); Br. Badeg Kelodan, Badeg Tengah, Badeg Dukuh, Telunbuana, Pura, Lebih and Sogra (Sebudi); Br. Kesimpar, Kidulingkreteg, Putung, Temukus, Besakih and Jugul (Besakih); Br. Bukitpaon and Tanaharon (Buana Giri); Br. Yehkori, Untalan, Galih and Pesagi (Jungutan) villages; and some parts of Dukuh village.

Bali is Welcoming the Peak Season

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya expected the lower status of Mount Agung will encoureage more international tourists to visit Bali, particularly in the coming peak season of November 2017 and January 2018. More marketing strategies are being promoted to the top 5 market segments: China, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, and Japan. Among which is the familiarization trip (famtrip) for media and tour operators from each market segments. Recently, Ministry of Tourism invited 9 media from China to Bali to give actual information about the current situation in Bali following Mount Agung volcanic activities, and to show that Bali is ready to welcome tourists from China. (Bureau of Legal Affairs and Public Communication)