Will Mount Agung erupt? This is the question on every Bali resident's lips.
Popular among tourists, seeking that breathtaking summit sunrise, it provides a higher physical challenge with a less trodden track, than its neighbour Mt Batur.
Nevertheless, at present, there will be no tourists allowed anywhere near, as it is highly likely that this angry active volcano will erupt any day soon.
75,000 people have been evacuated in the area surrounding the volcano, with many forced to leave behind their possessions and cattle. The last time Mt Agung erupted was in 1963, where 1600 people were killed. The ash cloud stretched far and wide. This video shows some clips from the last eruption.
The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has been carefully monitoring the volcano. The increased frequency and energy of tremors near Mt Agung lends to the idea that magma is rising to the surface, suggesting an eruption is imminent. Mt Agung is one of, more than, 120 volcanos on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
If you are travelling to Bali soon, it would be wise to check your insurance cover just in case an eruption occurs and, since it would fall under the natural disaster category, you might not be fully covered for extra time spent on the island due to aviation disruption.
My thoughts are with Bali residents, at this time, and hopefully they will be able to return to their homes soon.