2017 eruption of Mount Agung facts for kids
Mount Agung is a large volcano located on the island of Bali in Indonesia. In 2017, this volcano erupted, causing a lot of trouble for people living nearby and for travelers. Thousands of people had to move away from their homes to stay safe. Air travel was also greatly affected, meaning many flights were canceled. By November 27, 2017, the danger level was at its highest, and everyone in the area was told to leave.
What Happened?
Before the big eruption, scientists noticed that the volcano was becoming more active. Small earthquakes, caused by the movement of the Earth's plates (called tectonic earthquakes), were felt near Mount Agung starting in early August 2017. This showed that the volcano was waking up.
The volcano's activity grew stronger for several weeks. Then, it calmed down a lot in late October. But this quiet period did not last long. A second, much more powerful period of eruptions began in late November.
How People Were Affected
The eruption of Mount Agung had a big impact on many people. About 40,000 people had to leave their homes in 22 villages located around the volcano. They moved to safer places to avoid the ash and danger.
The eruption also caused major problems for air travel. Airports had to close down because the ash from the volcano could harm airplane engines. More than 400 flights were canceled, which meant about 59,000 passengers could not take their planned trips.
Images for kids
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Ash plume from Mount Agung on 27 November 2017
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Map showing sulfur dioxide (SO2) from NASA's Aura satellite after the eruption, 27 November 2017
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NASA MODIS aerial view of ash from Terra satellite, 29 November 2017
See also
In Spanish: Erupción del monte Agung de 2017 para niños
