TWO Wimmera people who own accommodation in Bali have offered to help travellers stranded in the country.
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Hundreds of Australians are stuck in Bali after Mount Raung erupted in East Java on Thursday and caused havoc for flights in and out of the country.
Hundreds more people are waiting in Australia to travel overseas.
Virgin Australia and Jetstar cancelled flights between Bali and Australia after the eruption.
A handful of flights have gone ahead since, with most expected to resume on Sunday night. However Virgin announced on Monday it would not fly to Bali until at least Tuesday.
Jetstar and other carriers are due to make an announcement about their flights on Monday afternoon.
Horsham’s Trevor Elsom and his friend Jillian Wright, who own Lily Lane Villas in Ubud, have offered to help Wimmera people struggling to find accommodation.
Mr Elsom, a former Horsham Police Station officer in charge, has six villas in Bali.
“I’ve been going to Bali for about seven years, and we have owned the villas for about five years,” he said.
“Jillian knew a Balinese couple and we bought a house in Bali next door to them. We renovated and put a pool in and business took off from there.”
Mr Elsom said the pair appreciated the emotional and financial stress people were facing.
“Some of the airlines are putting prices up, which is not good,” he said.
“We can’t help with flights, but because of our extensive contacts we are offering assistance in finding other safe, comfortable accommodation in and around Ubud during this difficult time.”
Mr Elsom said a Melbourne family was among the travellers staying at the Lily Lane Villas.
“Their plane was cancelled four days ago and they haven’t been able to get a flight out,” he said.
“We also have people from New Zealand. They were meant to go back on Sunday but their flight was also cancelled, so they stayed with us.”
Mr Elsom said he was due to travel back to Australia on Tuesday morning, but was unsure if his flight would go ahead.
He said anyone needing helping with accommodation in Bali could email him at lilylanevillas@gmail.com.