Mount Agung Volcano in Bali

The BBC reported that thousands of travellers have been left stranded in Bali after volcanic eruptions from the Mount Agung volcano. Just as with the earthquake in Kos, many holidaymakers are unsure if there is any cover under their travel insurance or what they should do if they are left stranded.

The National Disaster Management Agency has now raised the alert level to a 4, which is the highest threat, signalling the potential for a much larger eruption. As a result there are calls for anyone within a 10 km radius to leave the area as soon as possible.

Ash up to half an inch has settled on the area around the Volcano and the main international airport in Bali is closed because of the volcanic ash, which can get into aircraft engines and potentially cause planes to crash.

The smaller airport Ngurah Rai is also closed and over 500 flights cancelled . This has left tens of thousands of travellers stranded, although the situation is being monitored every few hours.

What to do if you are stranded

If you are planning to travel to the area now and flights have been cancelled, due to volcanic ash clouds, you need to check your insurance policy to see if it covers this. A large number of travel policies exclude any claim in respect of volcanic ash clouds. If travelling to an area such as Bali, finding a policy that offers cover against catastrophe and natural disaster is a very sensible move.

If you have yet to travel, follow the foreign office advice and contact your airline or travel agent before flying.

If you are stranded in Bali and have booked a package holiday, check with your tour operator. Some companies are providing temporary accommodation. Once again check your travel insurance as some companies do cover travel delay due to volcanic ash cloud.