High risk of Mt Agung eruption: Bali airport may remains closed for more than 24 hrs

Denpasar: Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said the closure of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport could last longer than 24 hours amid an eruption of Mount Agung.

Read: Bali on high alert over volcanic eruption, airports closed, 59,000 tourists stranded

"We don't know how long it will be closed for," Pastika told reporters, referring to the Bali airport. "Sure, it's been closed for 24 hours until tomorrow, but that doesn't rule out the possibility the (closure) could be extended," he said.

(Photo: AP)

At least 5,000 foreign and 15,000-20,000 domestic tourists pass through the airport each day, according to Pastika.

Ngurah Rai is Bali's main international gateway and a hub for tourists travelling to Indonesian islands further east.