Thais warned over travelling near Bali volcano

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (TNA) -- The Thai embassy in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta has issued a warning for Thai tourists not to travel near Mount Agung on the resort island of Bali following fears of the volcano eruption. A spokeswoman of the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry in Bangkok said the Indonesian government has already evacuated people living near the mountain. Simultaneously, the Thai embassy in Jakarta has issued the warning for Thai tourists to stay away from the mountain and to also monitor the situation closely. Currently, there are between 30-40 Thais living in the city of Bali, some four-hour drive from the mountain, the spokeswoman said, adding that those planning to visit Bali should monitor the situation first before making a journey. An international wire service report said Mount Agung has been rumbling since August and officials have recommended that people stay at least nine kilometres away from the crater. It said hundreds of small tremors had rattled the mountain this week, causing almost 10,000 people to leave their homes as of Friday over fears of the volcanic eruption. Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people. (END)