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Thousands of passengers ‘stuck’ in Indonesia’s Bali after war grounds planes
With foreigners at risk of overstaying their visas, the Bali immigration office has introduced a free same-day emergency stay permit
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Passengers stranded on the Indonesian resort island of Bali clamoured for flight news on Tuesday as the outbreak of war in the Middle East grounded planes and turned a tropical holiday dream into an ordeal for many.
Hundreds were crowded at Ngurah Rai International Airport, many dressed in shorts, flip-flops and summer dresses, their expressions dour.
Many sat on the floor, exhausted, and one man repeatedly hit a wall in frustration.
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“I just kind of want to see my family … right now it’s a bit stressful,” said British tourist Adam Woo, transiting through Bali after holidaying on the neighbouring island of Lombok.
The 23-year-old student said he saw the missiles start flying on the news “and I was a bit worried about my flight” – especially after Dubai International Airport was hit in Iran’s response to a US-Israeli attack.
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“Obviously, everyone around the world at the moment is kind of stuck,” Woo said. “All the travel agencies are swamped with people calling in. So, it’s literally impossible to even get on the phone with someone.”
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