Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia hit air travel

AFP, JAKARTA: Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia in recent days have forced the closure of two airports and disrupted some flights to the holiday island of Bali, officials said Wednesday.
Mount Gamalama on the eastern island of Ternate erupted early Wednesday after a moderate earthquake in the area, sending ash up to 600 metres (1,900 feet) into the air and closing the island’s airport, said the national disaster agency.
“People are advised to stay calm,” said agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, adding that authorities were not yet planning evacuations.
The airport was expected to stay shut until Thursday morning. The volcano had stopped violently erupting by Wednesday afternoon.
The airport on Lombok was closed overnight from Monday to Tuesday due to a drifting ash cloud from erupting Mount Rinjani, causing the cancellation of 29 domestic and international flights to the resort island.
The airport on neighbouring Bali, which attracts millions of foreign visitors every year, remained open but several flights between Lombok and Bali were cancelled while a handful of services between Australia and Bali were also axed.

Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia hit air travel

AFP, JAKARTA: Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia in recent days have forced the closure of two airports and disrupted some flights to the holiday island of Bali, officials said Wednesday. Mount Gamalama on the eastern island of Ternate erupted early Wednesday after a moderate earthquake in the area, sending ash up to 600 metres (1,900 feet) into the air and closing the islands airport, said the national disaster agency. People are advised to stay calm, said agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, adding that authorities were not yet planning evacuations. The airport was expected to stay shut until Thursday morning. The volcano had stopped violently erupting by Wednesday afternoon. The airport on Lombok was closed overnight from Monday to Tuesday due to a drifting ash cloud from erupting Mount Rinjani, causing the cancellation of 29 domestic and international flights to the resort island. The airport on neighbouring Bali, which attracts millions of foreign visitors every year, remained open but several flights between Lombok and Bali were cancelled while a handful of services between Australia and Bali were also axed.