Why Bali locals blame tourists for 'angry' volcano
Some locals refusing to leave as the Bali volcano threatens to erupt have said the mountain is "angry" because of tourists.
Mount Agung, located 75 kilometres from Kuta, has been rumbling since August and more than 80,000 people have been forced to leave their homes with the volcano experiencing hundreds of internal earthquakes.
Many are refusing to leave, saying they need to continue to earn money and claim the mountain is angry at the "bule" (white people).
"The climbers did that," local miner Jaya told the Sydney Morning Herald on why the mountain is rumbling.
Jaya said his priest accused tourists of "having sex and menstruating" on the sacred Mount Agung.
Bali has between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors each day and a quarter of all planes travelling in and out are from Australia, the ABC reported.
Scientists have predicted the volcano could erupt 'within hours' and tremors are being felt in Kuta.
Airlines are offering to waive fees for anyone who no longer wants to fly to Bali.
More than 70 people are already in hospital, struggling to breathe because of the smoke from the volcano.
"I get a cough and it's hard to breathe at the evacuation camp for the past four days, but now I feel better," one hospital patient said.
Makeshift schools have been set up for children, while at Denpasar Airport the alert level has been raised to orange, the second highest level.
