Volcano disrupts Bali flights

PERTH, Australia, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Flights to popular holiday destination Bali from Australia were canceled Friday because of safety fears as ash spewed from a volcano in East Java.

On Thursday, Pacific Blue flights to Bali, Indonesia, were diverted to Darwin, Australia, prior to reaching Bali. Virgin Blue and Jetstar both canceled flights to and from Denpasar.

Pacific Blue canceled three flights from Australia to Denpasar Friday. The airline said it was continuing to monitor the situation.

Several hundred passengers were stranded after cancellations Thursday. Travelers in Sydney, Darwin and Perth were offered the next available flights.

Australia-bound passengers stranded in Bali have been offered overnight accommodation.