Volcano in central Indonesia disrupts flights

JAKARTA, Indonesia – An Indonesian volcano is spewing towering clouds of ash, forcing several international airlines to cancel flights to the popular resort island of Bali.

Mount Bromo, which sprang back to life late last year, didn't cause any injuries or serious damage when it unleashed its powerful burst on Thursday.

But airport official Sherly Yunita says concerns about visibility prompted Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Cathay Pacific to cancel several flights to Bali, 210 miles (340 kilometers) to the east.

She says schedules are expected to return to normal by Friday.

Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of 235 million people, has more active volcanoes than any other country in the world.

Mount Bromo, on Java island, is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.