Mount Kerinci Erupts; Airport, Flight Operations Normal

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The infrastructure of airports near Mount Kerinci in West Sumatra remains safe following the volcano eruption on Wednesday, January 11, the Air Transportation Directorate General of the Transportation Ministry confirmed. Flights also operate normally.

Air Transportation Director General Maria Kristi Endah Murni said intensive monitoring would continue by involving AirNav Indonesia, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), airport operators, and other related parties.

“We will continue to coordinate with relevant stakeholders to get updated information on the development of the eruption. Until now, the infrastructure and flight tracks at the airports closest to the source of the eruption are still normal,” said Kristi in a written statement on Friday, January 13, 2023.

Based on information from the PVMBG’s Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA), no airports or flight routes within the eruption distribution zone. According to Kristi, Depati Parbo Airport, which is the closest airport to the source of the eruption, is still operating normally.

She instructed Padang Region VI Airport Authority Agency and all aviation stakeholders to continuously ensure flight safety and security after the volcano eruption. “We still have to be aware of the impact of volcanic ash. Tighten coordination and be alert to developments in Mount Kerinci eruption activity which could potentially affect flight operations,” she underlined.

Mount Marapi, which is located in the same mountainous site as Mount Kerinci, namely Bukit Barisan, also erupted on Thursday, January 12, 2023. “Likewise with the eruption of Mount Marapi, no airports and flight routes have been affected until now,” said Kristi.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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