Indonesia raises volcano alert status in Bali to highest, closes airport

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Indonesia raises volcano alert status in Bali to highest, closes airport
Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-27 10:18:09|Editor: Zhou Xin

Cold lava from Mount Agung volcano flows on the river Yeh Sah in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 27, 2017. Indonesia has raised alert for Mount Agung volcano to the highest level 4, disaster management sources said on Monday. (Xinhua/Muhammad Fauzy Chaniago)

JAKARTA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has raised alert for Mount Agung volcano to the highest level 4, disaster management sources said on Monday.

Authorities shut the main airport in Bali island after powerful eruptions on Sunday, spokesman of national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told Xinhua.

The level of eruption rose to magmatic stage from phreatic stage with a gigantic fires displayed during the night and its rumbling reaching 12 km from the crater, the spokesman said.

"In anticipating the risks the volcanologists have raised the alert status to the highest level," he said through text message.

Mount Agung alert status was downgraded to the second highest on Oct. 19 after the volcanologists upgraded it to the highest on Sept. 22.

The volcano erupted on Saturday with the highest height of ash spewed by up to 4 km to the sky.

Sutopo said that all villagers in the no-go zone must immediately be evacuated.

Ngurah Rai international airport has been closed since 07:00 a.m. local time Monday (2300 GMT Sunday) and evaluation will be undertaken for every 6 hours by flight authorities, secretary of air transport of the transport ministry Pramintohadi Sukarno said on Monday.

The closure was conducted after the meteorology and geophysics agency said that the airspace around the airport is within the volcano ash spread, he said.

"Ngurah Rai airport has been impacted and it is in the area of volcanic ash spread of Mount Agung. Therefore the directorate general of air transport decides to close the airport for flight safety reason," said Pramintohadi.

The center of volcanology and geological hazard mitigation (PVMBG) has also raised volcano observatory notice for aviation or VONA to the highest red level.

Over 200,000 foreign visitors visit Bali island every month, according to the national statistics bureau.

Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing 1,100 people. It is one of Indonesia's 129 active volcanoes.

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[Nike]

445 flights in Bali cancelled due to Mount Agung`s eruption
Senin, 27 November 2017 17:48 WIB - 14 Views

Reporter: Antara

Airline officers gave explanations to foreign nationals at Ngurah Rai International Airport Terminal, Denpasar, Monday (27/11/2017). Ngurah Rai Airport closed all flights on Monday starting at 07.00 WITA due to volcanic ash impact of Mount Agung eruption. (ANTARA /Fikri Yusuf)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A temporary shutdown at Bali`s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport led to 445 flight cancellations as a precautionary measure against likely flight disturbances due to volcanic ash arising from Mount Agung`s eruption in Denpasar.

"Due to a temporary shutdown of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, as many as 445 flights to and from Bali were affected," Secretary of PT Angkasa Pura I Israwadi stated in a press release received in Jakarta on Monday.

He said currently, flights from Bali were canceled, while those to Bali scheduled before 7:15 a.m. local time were diverted to some airports around Bali.

"We estimate that 445 flights will be canceled, covering 196 international routes and 249 domestic routes," he stated.

To ensure smooth handling of future flights to Bali, Israwadi said his side has prepared five alternative airports: the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java Province; Lombok Praya International Airport in West Nusa Tenggara Province; Sultan Hasanussin Airport in South Sulawesi Province; Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport in East Kalimantan Province; Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Central Java Province; Ahmad Yani International Airport in Central Java Province; and Adi Sutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta Province.

Israwadi also said his side has readied buses for passengers to serve as an alternative means of transportation to the Mengwi Bus Terminal and Padang Bai Port.

Israwadi`s side has also readied information service centers for offering ticket refund and flight rescheduling services and to also serve as outlets for the consulate general to serve foreign tourists.

Moreover, his side will offer entertainment in the form of music and traditional dance performances as well as additional services to provide snacks and beverages.

For further information on the updated condition of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali Province, the people can call the hotline: (0361) 9351011, extension 5055, and the Integrated Command Post, with extension 6300.

Moreover, for connecting to the hotline of the Lombok Praya Airport, the people can contact the integrated command post at (0370) 6157000, extension 888, or the call center of PT Angkasa Pura I at 172.

The I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport was shut down on Monday from 7:15 a.m. local time until Tuesday due to volcanic ash being spewed by Mount Agung.

Meanwhile, the Lombok Praya Airport was reopened on Monday at 6 a.m. local time after it was shut down since Saturday, Nov 26, at 5:55 p.m. local time due to volcanic ash arising from the mount`s eruption.

The 3,142-meter-high Mount Agung has been rumbling since August 2017.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry`s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) reported that Mount Agung had erupted, releasing volcanic ash and smoke from the crater on Nov 21.

The eruption occurred at 5:05 p.m. local time, with grey smoke rising some 700 meters from the crater.

Following the eruption, the PVMBG has also called on all villagers in the disaster-prone areas, tourists, and other individuals to avoid any activities near the volcano and other regions within a six-kilometer radius of the crater as well as in areas within 7.5 kilometers to the north, northeast, southeast, south, and southwest of Mount Agung.

Reported by Juwita Trisna Rahayu
(T.M052/A/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2017

 

[Boss Dragun]

nothing new, just some volcanic activities. us locals actually didn't give a shxt for something like this. some foreigners however, likes to spread such news to fear monger.

oh, also volcanoes are good tourist spot. and this isn't even in bali.

 

[Nike]

nothing new, just some volcanic activities. us locals actually didn't give a shxt for something like this. some foreigners however, likes to spread such news to fear monger.

oh, also volcanoes are good tourist spot. and this isn't even in bali.

Actually by each passing days we are handling disaster issue with proffesionalism and cool head. The news is showing we are giving concern to safety as the foremost issue when doing business. The closure of GNR internasional airport is a must, and we dont give a shit when people safety is at stakes

 

[Brainsucker]

Well, this is a good thread. A Natural Disaster Information, and alert. With this, people who want to go to Bali and got their plane canceled will understand what is actually happen there. And the reason why Ngurah Rai is closed is for their own safety.

Because who can prevent a natural disaster phenomenon? Even US, Russia, China can't. The only way we can do is to prevent casualty as many as we can.

 

[Bhayangkara]

Well, this is a good thread. A Natural Disaster Information, and alert. With this, people who want to go to Bali and got their plane canceled will understand what is actually happen there. And the reason why Ngurah Rai is closed is for their own safety.

Because who can prevent a natural disaster phenomenon? Even US, Russia, China can't. The only way we can do is to prevent casualty as many as we can.

I agree that., and regardless to whoever created this thread, I think it has nothing to do with such a fear mongering or something like that. It is just a normal if kind of a such news has getting an international coverages because its concerning about the safety flight issue of their peoples who have scheduled for their vacation to Bali, and it's including to the local flights as well. Which unfortunately it also affected to my flight today who originally should to transit Denpasar first before continue to the next flight, but forced to being canceled. And now, I have to wait for 1 or 2 days to got a green light.

 

[Cherokee]

I have never met better people in the entire world than balinese. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I went there a few months back when the volcano was level 4 alert as well. A bunch of locals collected a lot of P2 masks and supplies for them. People living on/near that mountain will be devastated. They have already lived for a few weeks in camps and recently moved back and now this happens...