Latest Travel Advice For Bali As Mount Agung Erupts

Flights are continuing to and from Bali as Mount Agung finally begins to erupt.

It started spewing ash just after 8pm AEDT, however the initial eruption was small and sent a 700m plume of black ash billowing east-southeast of the island, away from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The island's aviation alert has been increased to orange as per procedure but the busy international airport remains open.

In a statement released overnight, Virgin Australia said it was "continuing to closely monitor volcanic activity" after the minor eruption but all flights are operating as normal.

Flights could be affected if any volcanic ash invades Bali airspace, but local authorities are urging calm and vigilance.

Anyone with a flight is encouraged to check with their provider and monitor Twitter for updates.

It's unclear whether further eruptions will occur. 

Last time the volcano erupted in 1963 it continued to spew ash for a year. 

The movement comes exactly two months after authorities raised the alert level to four - the highest possible - sparking the evacuation of 185,000 residents.

That alert was recently downgraded.