Merapi starts to erupt in Central Java

As expected, Mt Merapi in Central Java has started to erupt. On Monday Merapi spewed hot ash and smoke, the ash covering fields 10km from the base.

Indonesian volcano experts are saying this is the last phase, before a bigger eruption. Locals still cling to the hope that Merapi won’t erupt with any real force.

How will this affect tourists in Bali? It won’t, unless they are coming from Jakarta, in which case the plane will have to divert a bit, instead of flying straight east. You can’t see Merapi from Bali either, though from the top of some Bali volcanoes you can see Rinjani in Lombok and others.