<P> After having been dormant for a long time, this year the mountain began to be alive again . In the first days of the activity earthquake shocks were felt after which followed the emission of ash, sand and stones . </P> <P> Mount Agung's 1963 eruption was among the most catastrophic volcanic events in Indonesian history . After initial explosions in the crater on 18 February of that year, lava began flowing down the mountain on 24 February, eventually traveling 7 km over the next three weeks . On 17 March, a highly explosive eruption occurred, reaching a VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) of 5 and sending lethal pyroclastic flows at high speeds down the mountain's slopes, killing at least 1,500 people . Heavy rainfall mixed with ash from the eruption in the following days caused extensive lahars which killed about 200 more people . A smaller eruption occurred on 16 May, sending pyroclastic flows down the mountain once more, killing about 200 more people . By the time the eruptions ceased in early 1964, they had claimed about 1,900 lives, marking the event as the 8th deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century . </P> <P> Since 1963, the population of Bali has nearly doubled . Mount Agung is therefore considered highly dangerous by Indonesian authorities . This concern was the primary reason behind their decision to evacuate more than 100,000 people in response to the surge in local tectonic activity in the latter half of 2017 . </P> <P> Volcanic earthquakes were observed from 10 August 2017 and the intensity increased in the following weeks . </P>

When did the bali volcano erupt in 2017