TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Babullah airport in Ternate was re-opened after its 11-day-shutdown from Mount Gamalama eruption on Thursday, December 18. At least four airlines, Sriwijaya Air, Garuda Air, Wing Air and Express Air have been spotted to operate to and from Ternate.
Taslim Badarudin, Head of UPTD Babullah airport said the re-opening was done after the runway was declared safe for flight activities and received a recommendation from the Volcanology Center and Geological Disaster Mitigation.
“The re-opening have been informed to all airlines and the first flight from Babullah airport occured at 7:45am (Eastern Indonesian Time),” Taslim told Tempo on Monday, December 29.
In accordance with the Notice to Airmen No.C0741/14 issued by the Ministry of Transportation, Babullah airport was re-opened on December 29 and is accelerating its runway cleaning process by deploying more than seven fire trucks, Taslim said.
“We have also deployed more than 100 people to help the cleaning process and the result, Babullah airport was able to be opened today,” Taslim said.
Darno La Mane, Head of Observation Post for Mount Gamalama, urges Babullah airport authority to stay alert because the activity of mount Gamalama is still within the level-3 status. Mount Gamalama still shows sign of activities.
“Currently, mount Gamalama still spits vulcanic ashes eventhough its intensity is not as high as the eruption on December 18 and have established Gamalama on alert status,” Darno told Tempo on Monday, December 29.
BUDHY NURGIANTO