The normally bustling airport on the Indonesian resort island of Bali is a near- ghost town, dotted by anxious Australian tourists desperate to get home.
The Mount Agung volcano lies a fair distance - about 70 kilomteres away - but the threat it poses is very real, and visible.
Activity at the mountain has ramped up in recent weeks culminating with the cancellation of flights in and out of Bali this week due to a large ash cloud thrown up by the volcano.
Indonesia has raised its alert for Mount Agung to the highest level, warning of the risk of a lava eruption is "imminent".
Mount Agung, which sits more than 3000 metres high over eastern Bali, last erupted in 1963 killing more than 1000 people and razing several villages.
On Monday night, tourists settled down for the night on makeshift beds on the airport's dusty floors.
Some were considering making the more than 10-hour journey to Surabaya and catching a series of flights across Indonesia back to Australia.
All are frustrated by what they say is a lack of updated information from their airlines about what happens next.
The first Janeen McKay heard about flight cancellations was in a text from her brother back in Australia as she was on her way to Bali's airport.
"I had nothing from Jetstar, they had my mobile number," the West Australian said.
After a 12-hour wait at the airport, she's now been told she won't be able to get home until Saturday at the earliest.
"We had a really nice time in Bali but then we get here and this has just ruined it," Ms McKay said.
"Why does it take five days to get us out of here? Not very happy."
Ms McKay, an office manager, is keen to get back to Geraldton, north of Perth, to take over the care of her elderly mother from her sister, a nurse, who's needed back at work on Thursday.
Veronika Naberezhnova is also non-plussed.
"It's a bit annoying," the Department of Human Services worker said.
"My family's waiting there (in Sydney) as well, they're all waiting, they're all stressed."
On the other side of Bali, at Sanur beach, the distant crackle of lightning and an afternoon rain shower were the only annoyances for tourists lounging on sun beds and sipping cocktails.
For them, the airport's closure means an extended holiday.
"What's to be annoyed about, getting stuck here," said Simon Allan, whose flight to Perth was cancelled because of the ash cloud.
"We have no control of nature and we'll just go with the moment and see what happens tomorrow," his partner Deborah Flynn told AAP.
Virgin Australia’s update on Wednesday morning advised passengers all flights between Bali and Australia are cancelled through to and including Thursday.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by these flight changes however we will always put safety first,” the airline advised.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation in Bali and will provide further updates as they become available.
“For guests with travel plans to Bali from 4 December onwards, please be advised that Virgin Australia will be further assessing this situation and will provide regular updates in due course.”
The airline also advised passengers already in Bali not to travel to the airport in Denpasar without a confirmed rebooked flight.
Jetstar passengers won’t be able to fly in or out of Bali on Wednesday, but there is good news for some Thursday passengers.
In an update on Wednesday morning, the airline advised that just two flights out of Bali on Thursday are cancelled.
JQ101 to Townsville and JQ117 to Perth – a flight originating in Singapore – won’t be going ahead.
AAP
