Canada issues travel advisories for tourist countries due to volcano and storms

More storms and natural disasters hit countries this week prompting travel advisories from Canada.

Late season hurricanes and a typhoon have hit several countries. A volcanic eruption also prompted a state of emergency in one country.

These natural events can severely impact residents and travel advisories suggest people avoid certain regions.

The federal government maintains a Travel Advice and Advisories page to help travellers make informed decisions and travel safely outside Canada.

They analyze trends and incidents affecting international travellers, monitor world events and collect updated reports from different sources.

Here are some countries with updated travel advisories:

Indonesia

Risks: Political and social tensions, the threat of terrorism throughout the country and a volcanic eruption.

Reasons: There have been going demonstrations and violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Jakarta and other cities across Indonesia since Aug. 22, 2024.

On Nov. 3, 2024, the Mount Lewotobo Laki-Laki volcano on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted. Local authorities declared a state of emergency until Jan. 1, 2025.

Transportation and access to essential services are disrupted in the area. Ash from the volcano has affected flights. Contact your airline before going to the airport to confirm the status of your flight, the advisory suggests.

Further eruptions, flash floods, and lava flows could occur.

Cuba

Risks: Shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel.

Reasons: Cuba was hit by two hurricanes in recent weeks. On Nov. 6, Hurricane Rafael made landfall on western Cuba. The storm brought excessive rainfall and violent winds. It may cause flash flooding and landslides.

On Oct. 20, 2024, Hurricane Oscar made landfall in the province of Guantanamo, east of the city of Baracoa. It caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Both storms could cause ongoing disruptions to transportation, power distribution, water, food and fuel supply, telecommunications networks, emergency services and medical care.

Philippines

Risks: Crime, terrorism, kidnapping and storms.

Reasons: Typhoon Yinxing (Marce) made landfall in northern Luzon on Nov. 7. The storm had maximum sustained winds of about 144 miles per hour, or a Category 4. The storm may cause flash flooding and landslides and could severely disrupt essential services including power, food and water supply.

The rainy or monsoon season extends from May to November, but storms can occur throughout the year. The Philippines experiences around 20 typhoons per year, mostly between June and November.

Morocco

Risks: Crime and terrorism.

Reasons: Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, purse and drive-by snatching, scams and other types of thefts occur in markets, parks and on beaches.

Armed robberies with knives have occurred and have resulted in injuries and in some cases, deaths. Don’t resist robbers, the advisory says.

A militarized boundary, known as the Berm, separates the Moroccan-controlled part of Western Sahara from the rest of the Saharan territory, which borders Algeria and Mauritania. There are fatalities involving unexploded ordnance in this zone each year.

Reasons: There is a significant increase in crime, including thefts, purse and bag snatchings, pickpocketing and break-ins, during the festival season, which extends from September to November. Maintain a high level of personal security awareness and ensure that your personal belongings and your passports are secure.

From Nov. 8 to March 2025, Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu will reduce its hours of operation. The airport will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. while construction takes place. This could affect international and domestic flights.

For a complete list of advisories and further information, see the website here.

Lead photo of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: Stijn Dijkstra