Passengers have been left stranded as multiple flights in and out of Bali were grounded on Friday.

It followed the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi late on Thursday.

Jetstar cancelled six return flights from Australia to Bali on Friday morning to due unsafe conditions from the spread of volcanic ash.

“Impacted customers have been notified directly and provided a range of options, including rebooking on the next available flight,” the budget airline said.

Jetstar was monitoring the situation early on Friday afternoon, with its later flights so far unaffected.

Qantas, which had only afternoon flights scheduled on Friday, was also unaffected.

Virgin Australia said it anticipated delays for a flight out of Brisbane and another out of Melbourne. Corresponding return flights will also be affected.

“Virgin Australia’s meteorologists are closely monitoring ash cloud movement in Indonesia following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi overnight,” an airline spokesperson.

“Safety is our top priority and based on the current forecast we expect some delays to Bali services today.

“Guests travelling to and from Bali today should monitor their flight information on the Virgin Australia website and app.”

Mount Lewotobi is more than 1000 kilometres east of Bali in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province.

Local media reported its latest eruption began at 11pm local time on Thursday. The eruption of the 1703-metre volcano lasted nearly 12 minutes and sent ash eight kilometres into the sky.

Indonesian officials raised the alert to the highest level of the country’s four-tiered system.

“The ash column was observed grey to black with thick intensity,” Indonesia’s volcanology agency said.

So far there are no reports of damage to nearby villages, although there are fears for potential volcanic mudflow due to heavy rain.

Indonesian authorities have imposed a seven-eight kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted several times last November, killing nine people.