Bali/Singapore: Made, a Bali taxi driver, sat forlornly on the tiles of the international arrivals terminal at Denpasar airport, his sign resting against his knees. It was almost midnight and the terminal was empty, as it had been most of the day. Still, he waited, just in case.

“I had no order all day, I’ve been here since morning – 8am,” he said. “Not a single passenger – so many flights cancelled.” Thirty incoming international flights that day, to be exact. Many from Australia.

Eruptions from Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano in East Flores and an unfavourable wind had sent ash clouds into the flight path between Australia and Bali. 

It began erupting on November 3, when volcanic material was thrown up to 6km from its crater, killing 10 people including nuns at a convent that was blanketed by volcanic debris.

The airlines had no answers on Wednesday. Australians stuck in Bali had to find a hotel or get comfortable at the airport, hoping the situation would improve by Thursday.

“They can’t tell me when I can fly home. I have no accommodation, nothing. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know,” Australian woman Brigitta said at the airport. “I am down to my last $30. I can’t book another flight and I can’t afford to go to a different hotel. I tried calling the last hotel I stayed, but they are full.”

She was sitting with a dozen or so European travellers whose flight to Doha was delayed until 4am. Brigitta was trying to get to Adelaide. “I will have to wait here,” she said. “I am supposed to start work tomorrow. I’m a shop worker.”

Airlines had made plans for several days of disruptions, but there was good news in the morning. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar would resume services on Thursday.