TEMPO.CO, Surakarta - Adi Soemarmo International Airport Management, Surakarta, continues the attempt to clean its runway from Mount Kelud's volcanic ash. For that purpose, Rini Sri Rahayu, the operational chief of PT Angkasa Pura I Bandara Internasional Adi Soemarmo, has asked for assistance from various parties to speed up the cleaning process, such as from the fire brigade.
"We have a asked for assistance from six fire brigade units to help clean up the ash by spraying high pressure water on the runway," Rini said this morning. "Four cars from the airport fire brigade, two from Surakarta and Boyolali."
The cleaning is fairly difficult since the ash is already sticking to the runway after the rain poured yesterday. The volcanic ash became muddy and sticky. Until yesterday evening, only 25 percent of the 2,600-meter runway has been cleaned up. Meanwhile, the thickness of the volcanic ash on the airport's runway is approximately 1.5 – 2 centimeters.
Other than firemen, there are 250 students of Adi Soemarmo Indonesian Air Force helping the process. Rini is targeting for the airport to start operating on tomorrow morning at six. Adi Soemarmo airport has been closed since Friday.
UKKY PRIMARTANTYO