Kuta, Bali (Antara Bali)- Some 277 flights to and from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport were cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Raung located in East Java Province that spewed volcanic ash cloud drifting towards Bali Island.
"Of the total, 160 are domestic flights and 117 international flights," General Manager of the airport`s Angkasa Pusa I subsidiary, Trikora Harjo, informed the press here on Friday.
On Thursday, July 9, the airport in Bali temporarily shut down operations. However, it was expected to resume operations at 9:30 p.m. local time, while the passengers stranded at the airport due to the cancellation of flights were accommodated in hotels.
The airport`s operator has issued a notice to airmen (Notam) No. A1415/15.
The eruption of Mount Raung, which is located in the borders of Banyuwangi, Jember and Bondowoso districts, in East Java, is affecting the operations of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali.
The information was obtained from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia, and the Denpasar branch of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
The volcanic ash expelled by Mount Raung has reached heights ranging between 17 thousand meters and 20 thousand meters, which poses a threat to flights.
Based on this information, the regulatory operator has decided to cancel all flights to and from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.
Mount Raung in East Java province erupted on July 5, spewing plumes of smoke, incandescent cinder, and lava.
Mount Raung is one of the active volcanoes on Java Island. It is 3,332 meters above sea level.
It has a 2-kilometer-wide caldera surrounded by a grayish rim. The difference in color between the rim and the flanks of the volcano is caused by the lack of vegetation along the rim as compared to the healthy and extensive vegetation in the flanks.
Meanwhile, Garuda Indonesia Airlines has cancelled 112 flights to avoid aviation hazards and to ensure passenger safety due to the volcanic ash being spewed by Mount Raung.
In addition to Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok International Airport, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi and Jember Notohadinegoro Airport have also been shut down, and all flights operating to and from these airports have been cancelled.
The 112 cancelled flights include 27 return flights on Jakarta-Denpasar route, 11 return flights on Denpasar-Surabaya route, six return flights on Denpasar-Yogyakarta route, two return flights on Denpasar-Timika route, four return flights on Denpasar-Labuan Bajo route, two return flights on Denpasar-Kupang route, four return flights on Denpasar-Makassar route, two return flights on Denpasar-Dili route, two return flights on Denpasar-Manado route, and two return flights on Denpasar-Semarang route. (WDY)
