Bali, Lombok Airports Resume Operations

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok Praya Airport resumed operations, Friday, after they were closed due to the eruption of Mount Agung on the island of Bali, an official said.

"As of 8.00 a.m. today, the eruption of Mount Agung had no impact on the operation of Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok Praya Airport. Therefore, we decided to reopen them," Director General of Air Transportation at the Transportation Ministry Agus Santoso said here, Friday, quoting the latest report from the head of the Denpasar regional airport authority IV.

The result of the observation conducted by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) from 2.00-8.00 a.m. on Friday, has indicated that the volcanic ash from Mount Agung has moved in an easterly direction with a wind speed of 5-15 knots.

The Himawari Satellite Image RGB failed to detect the movement of the volcanic ash because it was covered by clouds. The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) status detected it with an orange code.

"The result of a paper test conducted at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport did not show volcanic ash (NIl VA) either," he stated.

Agus pointed out that data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) had showed the volcanic activity of Mount Agung had declined to Level IV.

I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport's runway is also in a good condition, he emphasized.

"Based on the pilot report, no volcanic ash was found on the runway," he noted.

Likewise, volcanic ash no longer covered the air space over Lombok Praya International Airport, he added.

The Transportation Ministry has notified about the reopening of the airports to operators of national and international airlines, he remarked.

With the reopening of the airports, he has asked both airline operators and regulators to remain alert to ensure the safety and security of air passengers.

PVMBG on Sunday (Nov 26) raised the flight status warning to the highest level 'red', following the second eruption of the volcano the day before.

Earlier, Mount Agung spewed 6,142 meters column of the volcanic ash from the crater, the PPVMBG's VONA reported on November 25.

"If the volcanic ash column has reached 6,000 meters above the sea surface, the aviation status would turn to the highest warning level, which is red," Kasbani, PVMBG head, mentioned, speaking from Karangasem district, Bali province, on November 26.   (WDY)