Latest news with #Bali
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Volcano Erupts In Eastern Indonesia Disrupting Air Travel
The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the Indonesian island of Flores prompted authorities to close three regional airports and cancel dozens of international flights. Over 14,000 passengers are stranded on Flores, Bali and Lombok. The eruption spewed a colossal ash column over 10,000 meters into the atmosphere, posing a danger to commercial airplanes flying at altitudes around 30,000 to 42,000 feet (9.000 to 12.800 meters). Authorities raised alert levels to the highest of a four-tiered system, evacuating over 4,000 people from a 7-kilometer-wide area around the volcano. According to authorities, lahars— a mix of hot water and volcanic debris— pose the greatest danger. During an eruption in November 2024, nine people were killed. Lewotobi is a twin volcano with two summit craters: the Lewotobi Laki-laki (husband Lewotobi) and Lewotobi Perempuan (wife Lewotobi). Lewotobi's twin peaks are classic stratovolcanoes, formed by successive layers of lava, ash, and volcanic debris. Volcanic activity is documented since the 17th century, with most eruptions limited to the smaller Lewotobi Laki-laki. Indonesia frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it lies near the intersection of several tectonic plates, including the Pacific Plate, the Eurasian Plate, the Australian Plate and the Philippine Plate. As parts of the colliding plates and seafloor are pushed into Earth's mantle, blobs of molten rock rise upwards and come into contact with water and gases, resulting in highly-explosive mix on the surface. Over 106 volcanoes are dotting the Indonesian archipelago; at least 60 have been active in the past 400 years. Some of the largest eruptions in recorded history, like the Tambora in 1815 and Krakatoa in 1883, happened here.
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
Escalating crises are redrawing the air map of the world. Here's what that means for flyers
Look at a map of the world showing all the airplanes currently in the air and what stands out most — apart from the staggering number of aircraft up there — are the gigantic holes in the sky where no flights can be found. These no-fly zones usually occur where there's a risk to aircraft safety from events on the ground. The escalating conflict in the Middle East is the latest global situation to punch holes through air traffic flows, a situation that aviation experts say is costing commercial airlines time and money as they reroute or cancel flights. It's a reminder that, even when cocooned in a metal tube at 40,000 feet, watching a Hollywood movie and being served dinner and drinks, air passengers remain inescapably tied to the events happening far below them. Global travel is subject to the whims of international geopolitics at most times, but never more so than in the sky. However, after contending with a string of conflicts going back to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and beyond, the disruption of war has become a fact of life that airlines have become adept at dealing with. And natural disasters, like the current volcanic eruption near Bali, Indonesia, can be much more troublesome for the air carriers, one analyst says. 'Airspace closures have become quite common,' said Brendan Sobie, a Singapore-based aviation consultant. 'It's almost like the new normal for airlines to have to navigate this kind of thing,' he told CNN, mentioning the recent flare-up of tensions between India and Pakistan, last year's strikes by Israel and Iran and the war in Ukraine as just some of the manmade events that have disrupted air travel in recent years. As live air tracking maps from websites like FlightRadar24 show, there are now gaping holes over Israel, Iraq, Iran and Ukraine with most traffic squeezed into corridors that skirt around those countries. There is still some international air traffic over Russia, but this mainly consists of Chinese carriers like Air China, Xiamen Air or Cathay Pacific. Russian airspace bordering Ukraine has been closed to all commercial airlines since the start of the invasion, so China's European routes primarily enter or depart above the Baltic Sea, near St. Petersburg. 'Airlines have departments of people constantly looking at airspace issues and assessing risk,' Sobie said, adding that each airline has different variables on how they operate. 'Even airspace that's open, some airlines might deem it as not safe' and reroute accordingly, he said. Often that rerouting involves significant diversions. Pilots must be able to fly far enough away from danger zones that unexpected weather conditions do not accidentally push them over the line, or on-board crises force them to make emergency landings in the wrong place. Increasingly, in an age of cyber warfare, there's also the potential danger of GPS jamming or spoofing around combat zones — with satellite navigation systems at risk of being tricked into showing false locations. No matter the airline, flight disruptions cost money — a lot of it, said Tony Stanton, consultant director of Strategic Air in Australia. For example, he said the current conflict in Iran and Israel is forcing carriers to add two hours on to nonstop flights from London to Hong Kong. Even for relatively efficient long-haul jetliners like Boeing's 777 or Airbus' A350, that means using up considerably more fuel. 'To put that into perspective, whilst many factors affect fuel burn, a B777 burns around $7,000 per hour of fuel as a rough estimate,' Stanton said. Besides fuel, airlines may see increased costs for crew time, new charges to overfly different airspace as well as lost revenue from delays and cancellations. And those losses cannot be quickly recouped because most passengers have booked their tickets weeks or months in advance of the event that's causing the problems. Adding those costs into future ticket sales may not be possible because supply and demand on routes may have changed since the conflict began, the analysts said. 'The business of running a profitable airline is not easy,' Stanton noted. While the current Mideast conflict has seen commercial flights to Iran and Israel stopped entirely, airlines that would once fly over those destinations are having to change routes. Sobie said that the biggest effect proportionately has been on short-haul flights between Central Asia and Mideast destinations like Dubai or Doha. Those flights might have spent two hours of a three- or four-hour flight in Iranian airspace before the fighting began, he said. Many flights that would have crossed Iranian, Iraqi, Jordanian or Israeli airspace are rerouting to flight corridors over Saudi Arabia, Egypt and up into Turkey, Stanton said. 'FlightRadar24 clearly shows how air traffic is currently being pressed into two narrow corridors, particularly a corridor to the south of the conflict zones.' That can mean more work for air traffic controllers, who are fitting more aircraft into smaller spaces, said experts. Accommodations can be made by adjusting things like flight altitudes and take-off times, they said — however, these factors too can have an impact on price, with prime airport 'slots' for take-off and landing costing airlines yet more cash. The analysts also noted that more people and planes are flying today than ever before, and that makes handling any disruptions for conflict more difficult. For instance, air traffic in the Persian Gulf region is three times what it was just a few years ago, Sobie said. The potentially tragic stakes of crossing certain airspace regions were starkly highlighted in July 2014 when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched from an area of Ukraine held by pro-Russian rebels. The incident claimed the lives of all 298 people on board. Adding to the air carriers' concerns is the lack of certainty on when conflicts end. For instance, the war in Ukraine started in February 2022, and route changes and cancellations that resulted from that are still in effect. Flight restrictions imposed after flare-ups between Iran and Israel last year were short-lived, Sobie said. Even with the uncertainty of war, Stanton noted there are bigger worries for air carriers, like volcanoes. 'The most common other phenomenon impacting air routes is volcanic eruptions like what we see in Bali today,' Stanton said. Clouds of volcanic ash contain silica, which can fuse to jet engine parts with catastrophic consequences, can be blown over long distances in high-altitude winds, he said, noting that the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland affected more than 10 million passengers and cost airlines over $1.7 billion. As thick clouds billowed out of Eyjafjallajökull, the skies over the North Atlantic — one of the world's busiest aviation routes — fell silent, with air traffic dropping to levels that wouldn't be seen again until the Covid pandemic a decade later. 'A volcano's eruption can have much greater impacts than a conflict zone,' Stanton said. CNN's Barry Neild contributed to this report.
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Australians in Bali during 2017 volcano eruption warn others to take out travel insurance
Brisbane woman Teresa was excited about her girls' trip to Bali in 2017. Her group even extended their trip to enjoy the Indonesian holiday island a little longer. But when the time came to fly home, Bali's Mount Agung threw their plans into chaos. The volcano erupted in November of that year, causing some 150,000 residents to evacuate from their homes nearby. Bali's busy Denpasar airport was also closed due to ash fall from the mountain. "The whole thing was a debacle," said Teresa, who is again in Bali for a holiday. She told the ABC she was "experiencing deja vu". Bali airport has reopened following this week's eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the nearby island of Flores, but holiday-makers are warned that disruptions may continue. But Teresa, who only wants to be identified by her first name, said this time she didn't make the same mistake as in 2017 — not taking out travel insurance. During the previous trip, only one of Teresa's friends had travel insurance. "She was able to get a Singapore Airlines flight out quickly, about three days after the eruption," she said. "One friend was flown to Sydney where the airport was closed at the time and there was no accommodation available. It was a similar story for another one of her friends, who was flying home to Perth but had to stay overnight in Darwin. "The airport there was closed at night. She sat on her suitcase until the next morning," she said. For Teresa, it took just over a week to leave Bali — and even then it wasn't a direct trip home. "I had to fly to Melbourne first, then I got put into a run-down motel the airline had booked for the passengers," she said. Indonesia's transport ministry said some 14,000 travellers had been affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. They said despite the airport returning to normal operations, a backlog of passengers was expected to take some time to clear. A number of flights between capital cities and Bali scheduled for Wednesday morning were cancelled after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on Tuesday evening. Others slated for Wednesday evening were delayed for hours. Indonesian authorities raised the volcanic alert to the highest level and two villages were evacuated. Denpasar airport operators said in a statement on Wednesday that 87 flights were affected by the eruption — 66 international and 21 domestic. The international flights affected included legs to and from Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Perth, Sydney, Singapore, Auckland, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. Andrew was in the Indonesian city of Bandung during Mount Agung's eruption in 2017. He said unlike Teresa's experience, having travel insurance covered the cost of his cancelled flight and accommodation. "My flight from Bandung to Bali was cancelled, so I had to stay a few extra days until a flight was available," he told the ABC. Andrew managed to get a flight to Lombok, where he stayed overnight. The next morning, he caught a boat to Bali, where he now lives. "My travel insurance covered everything," he said. These experiences reiterate how travel insurance is "essential protection" for holidays, said CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird. "The volcano affecting travel to Bali is a perfect example. If you bought your travel insurance in time, it will help you with the cost of cancelling or rescheduling your holiday," Mr Bird told the ABC. Mr Bird said in order to be covered for natural disasters, you need to buy travel insurance before the incident becomes "a known event". Otherwise, it could be too late. An event becomes "known" when it is publicised in the media, or official government websites, like the government's Smartraveller. "For a major event, like the Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, many insurers will publish advice on their website about when you needed to buy the policy to be covered," Mr Bird said. However, he said some insurers have cut off cover in the last few days: "The trick is to know your destination and buy travel insurance when you book your trip." Travel insurance can be purchased from a direct insurance company, or through travel agencies like Webjet and Flight Centre. In other cases, some credit card providers offer complimentary travel insurance as a perk. When choosing a policy, it is important to understand the coverage and exclusions.
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Shock': Traveller reveals everything wrong with Australia
If you're like me and you've returned from Ho Chi Minh City after weeks of seeing 'Open 24 hours' signs plastered on every establishment and you're now wondering why you can't get a late-night feed that's not a McDonald's burger – you're not alone. After spending a year soaking up the fast-paced, late-night energy of some of Asia's busiest cities, Sydney woman Fiona Wang thought she'd feel comforted coming home. Instead, she found herself wandering empty footpaths after 5.30pm and not being able to get in to see the doctor on a weekend. 'How do Australians do this?' she said in a social media clip. The 29-year-old business owner and self-proclaimed 'travel-addict' recently returned to Australia after living in Bali, and says the adjustment back to Aussie life has been a culture shock in ways she didn't expect. 'If you're working 9-5, everything is closed by 5.30pm and doctors aren't open on Sundays. 'In Asia you can still contact the banks after 5pm, you can go to the mall 'till 10pm – you can do anything you need to,' she said. Like Fiona, I too had grown used to the 24-hour pharmacies, late-night bar spots and restaurants buzzing well into the early hours. But even mundane errands have now become a mission. 'Back here, I can't even send things by post unless I go during lunchtime,' she added. Amen, Fiona. Though she still loves to call Australia home, the 29-year-old admits she 'needs half-half.' A quick Google search returns results of like-minded night-owls all in pursuit of the answer to this very same question. 'Why does everything in Australia close so early?' In a very brutal Reddit take, one user questioned: 'Does no one like making money in Australia? Or do they just close early to go home and complain about the cost of living? Trying to get food after 9pm is impossible, and don't even get me started on AusPost opening hours.' 'Cafes closing at 1pm needs to be studied,' replied one user. Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder told 'We need to be more than a nation of coffee shops at 2pm to deserve the label of a top cultural destination.' 'There's a clear tension between the desire for a vibrant, attractive night-life that draws tourists and boosts local economies, and concerns about public safety and noise,' he said. 'Australian cities absolutely can have both safe and peaceful, while vibrant and world famous entertainment districts, but it requires genuine financial support for venues to make accommodations, protections from noise complaints, and good city planning to get people home safely. 'It also requires an acceptance from residents, especially in existing entertainment districts, that this is part and parcel of living in the inner cities.' Whether Australia is a nation with a rumbling night-life underbelly that's waiting to emerge or one that's permanently transfixed by early morning run clubs and matcha is yet to be seen – but until then, Ho Chi Minh is always ready for a good time.
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
When war becomes background noise: Emotional numbness on the rise, experts say
Every morning, Rasha opens her phone and scrolls through an endless feed of contradictions. A reel of someone dancing barefoot in Bali. A news flash about families displaced in Gaza. An ad for luxury watches. Another explosion. Another crying child. As news became just another piece of content, squeezed between influencer vlogs and product promotions, Rasha noticed something shift. "Through the years, I've noticed my reaction change," she says. 'Of course I care, it breaks my heart, but it doesn't shatter me anymore. I just keep scrolling.' Like many others who have lived in a digital world saturated with crisis content, where footage of war, displacement, and disaster is available 24/7, Rasha finds herself suspended between compassion and emotional numbness. Mental health professionals say this kind of detachment is not uncommon. It's a quiet, often invisible side effect of living in a world where tragedy is constant and connection is filtered through a screen. 'Emotional numbness is a coping mechanism,' says Daniela Semedo, a clinical psychologist at BPS Clinic. 'It happens when people are exposed to distressing images or stories so often that their minds begin to shut down emotionally, not because they don't care, but because they're overwhelmed.' According to Semedo, the mind does this to protect itself. When tragedy becomes a daily backdrop, whether through social media, breaking news alerts, or forwarded videos, the emotional system can blunt its own responses as a survival strategy. 'We're not meant to process this much trauma at once,' she adds. 'Repeated exposure to violent imagery can desensitise people, even those who have never lived through war themselves.' For those who have experienced war firsthand, that desensitisation can be even more complex, part of a wider set of symptoms that includes avoidance, hypervigilance, or disconnection from others. 'In survivors of war or forced displacement, emotional numbness can show up as flatness, silence, or even seeming indifference,' explains Rahaf Kobeissi, trauma therapist and founder of Rays Your Mental Health. 'But this is not apathy, it's a deeply protective response to unprocessed trauma.' She notes that digital triggers can reinforce that response. 'A video clip, a headline, even a WhatsApp voice note can reactivate past memories. When it happens often enough, the nervous system tries to dull the reaction, which over time leads to emotional shutdown.' Emotional burnout This pattern of compassion fatigue or numb scrolling doesn't only affect war survivors. Experts say even people with no direct exposure to conflict can experience a sense of helplessness or emotional burnout from constantly consuming violent content. 'There's a difference between being informed and being flooded,' says Kobeissi. 'The latter can leave people feeling emotionally flat, anxious, or disconnected, especially when they don't have the tools to process what they're seeing.' In cases where emotional numbness persists, it may also be an early warning sign of deeper trauma, especially for those who have previously lived in conflict zones. 'PTSD doesn't always look like flashbacks or panic attacks,' says Semedo. 'Sometimes it looks like silence. Withdrawal. A loss of interest in things that used to matter. People often think they're 'handling it well' when they've actually shut down emotionally.' Healing from this kind of emotional overload, both experts agree, requires intentional support, and a conscious effort to step away from the constant noise. That can include limiting news consumption, building in daily grounding rituals, and, when needed, seeking professional help. 'We can't feel everything, all the time,' says Kobeissi. 'But we can learn to feel safely again, and that's where healing begins.'
