Volcanic ash halts flights to north Australian city

Flights into and out of the northern Australian city of Darwin were cancelled today, and some to Bali affected, after huge ash clouds were thrown up by an Indonesian volcano.
The Sangeang Api volcano began erupting Friday, and its ash is sweeping south towards Australia, prompting Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia to cancel Darwin flights.
"The volcano is continuously erupting," Tim Birch from the Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin told AFP.
Birch said one plume was affecting northern Australia and impacting Darwin and was expected to linger for at least 18 hours.
Another was located over central Australia, which could cause problems for overland flights, while a third was about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Denpasar airport on Indonesia's Bali.

"All of the plumes will be affecting aviation," he said.

Surono, an Indonesian government volcanologist who goes by one name, said that Sangeang Api was spewing columns of ash up to 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) into the air on Saturday.
Virgin Australia cancelled flights to Denpasar airport late Saturday, as did Qantas offshoot Jetstar.
Indonesian flag carrier Garuda cancelled three flights to Denpasar from nearby airports, transport ministry spokesman J. A. Barata told AFP. However, Denpasar airport reported good visibility and was not itself affected by the ash, he said.
Two small airports close to the volcano in central Indonesia -- one on the island of Sumbawa and another on neighbouring Sumba -- closed Saturday due to the eruption, Barata said. The airport on Sumbawa was shut for several hours, while the second was due to remain closed until Sunday.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said it could take days for Australian services to return to normal.
"Depending on wind and other weather conditions, the ash has the potential to affect flights to and from other airports, including Brisbane, during coming days," he said.
"This is currently being fully assessed.