Govt to Reveal Response Plans on Bali Volcano Mt. Agung Eruption

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi will reveal response plans on the eruption of Bali volcano Mt. Agung in the transportation sector to President Joko Widodo today, Sept. 28. “We are preparing two items,” Budi told reporters at the Presidential Palace.

The government has been preparing for a possible eruption of Mount Agung in Bali following the latest alert status declared by the Meteorology and Geophysics.

According to Budi, the first plan relates to the management of flights to Bali since an eruption would affect aviation.

Read: Mount Agung in Bali Highly Active, Thousands Seek Refuge

The plan includes preparations at nearby airports to accommodate Bali-bound planes. If planes could not fly over Bali, they will be diverted to the airports of Banyuwangi, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang, etc. “A total of 10 airports have been prepared,” Budi said.

The second plan relates to the flight of passengers at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. If passengers could not leave Bali by plane, they will be transported by buses from the airport.

Read: Airnav Sets 10 Backup Airports Nearing Mt Agung Eruption in Bali

“There are approximately 5000 people. There will be 35 flights, times 10 hours, times 200. We estimate that 2000 of whom are Balinese, who will be provided with buses, a thousand foreign tourists and the rest are domestic ones,” Budi said.

Budi added that the Bali volcano Mount Agung eruption response plans are subject to change based on President Joko Widodo’s instructions.

ISTMAN MP