A light smoke was noticed over the crater of Bali's sacred mountain, which is also the island's largest active volcano, Agung, on December 1st.
The footage caused a stir, but Indonesian geophysicists and local authorities quickly reassured: this is ordinary steam emission after rain.
Water gets into the heated layers of the crater, evaporates instantly — hence the beautiful white 'smoke'. It looks impressive, but it's not dangerous.
According to daily reports from the volcanology center, Agung is still at Level I (Normal). There are volcanic tremors, but for an active, stable volcano, this is a usual scenario. The Rendang observation post does not record any increase in magma pressure, gas emissions, or signs of magma movement. Visual observations are often hindered by fog and clouds — hence the impression that 'smoke' suddenly appears from the crater.
Over the past year, Bali has significantly enhanced its response system to natural threats. A new backup center for the BMKG early warning system has been set up on the island. It duplicates the key functions of the central service in Jakarta and monitors earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes around the clock. This adds another level of security: if activity increases, an alert will be raised quickly.
There's no need to panic. The authorities respond promptly: in case of threat, residents are evacuated in advance, and access to the volcano is closed. This was the case in 2017 when scientists feared an explosive eruption of Agung and took strict precautionary measures in advance.
However, it's still necessary to remember basic safety. Even a 'calm' volcano remains potentially dangerous. It's not advisable to approach the crater closely, climb Agung in the fog and rain, or camp on the slopes. All climbs on Agung, Batur, and other peaks in Bali should only be undertaken with local guides — as required by law and common sense.
Treks on Bali's volcanoes are technically challenging and traverse risky terrain. Often, brave individuals who decide to 'figure it out themselves' end up facing serious issues and deportation. It's much more sensible to rely on professional guides and opt for a tour with transfer from MyBaliTrips tour with transfer and organization — allowing the volcano to remain a beautiful backdrop rather than the epicenter of rescue adventures.
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