Bali volcano: Thousands evacuated amid fears Mount Agung could erupt

Nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated from their homes near an active volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali amid fears it is about to erupt.

Waskita Sutadewa, spokesman for the disaster mitigation agency in Bali, said people have scattered to all corners of the island and some have crossed to the neighboring island of Lombok.

Authorities raised Mount Agung’s alert status to the highest level on Friday following a dramatic increase in seismic activity. It last erupted in 1963, killing about 1,100 people.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said hundreds of thousands of face masks would be distributed.

Officials warned there had been a “tremendous increase” in volcano activity.

Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and the UK all issued advisoires the increased activity could disrupt flights at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Indonesian authorities have imposed a 7.5 mile exclusion zone around the crater.

Evacuees are being housed in makeshift shelters like town halls and school gyms. Host communities were providing food and water, while the central and local governments were providing tents, blankets and other relief.

Officials have urged the public to remain calm amid false reports and videos circulating online of an eruption.