Mount Agung: Warning Flight Status Raised to the Highest `Red`
27 November 2017 05:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry`s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) on Sunday raised the warning flight status to the highest "Red", following the second Mount Agung`s eruption, Saturday.
The Mount Agung, earlier, has spewed 6,142 meters column of the volcanic ashes from the crater, the PPVMBG`s Volcano Observatory Notice to Aviation (VONA) reported on Nov 25.
"If the volcanic ash column has reached 6,000 m above the sea surface, the aviation status would turn to highest warning level red," the PVMBG head, Kasbani said in Karangasem district, Bali province, Sunday.
Before the volcano`s second eruption, the flight warning system remained in the second-highest "orange" level.
Read also: Mt. Agung Spews 6142 Meters Ash; Red Notice Issued
Although a large amount of ashes has been released, VONA reported, the volcanic material is moving not to the airport, but to the north and southeast of Mount Agung.
Despite of the "red" status, PVMBG has no authority to ban or cancel any flights en route to and from Bali.
The warning status, Kasbani said, would serve as an information for the pilots to avoid the airways nearby the volcano.
Although VONA has raised the warning status, the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport still runs normally, the spokesperson, Arie Ahsanurrohim said.
However, some a local and 22 foreign airlines have canceled their flights en route to and from Bali.
On a different occasion, the operator, PT Angkasa Pura I`s General Manager I Yanus Suprayogi stated, according to the latest paper test, no volcanic ash was found at the airport.
Apart from some cancellations, all airlines remained normally operating.
Read also: Mount Agung Spews Ash 1,500 Meters into Sky
Since the volcano had its second eruption on Thursday (Nov 25), at least 26 airlines have canceled its departure and arrival schedules to Bali.
Most routes canceled were provided by several foreign airlines, including Jetstar, Virgin Airlines, KLM, Air Asia Malaysia, Qantas Airways, Cathay Airlines, Malindo Air, and Hong Kong Airlines.
Therefore, the airport`s spokesperson Ahsanurrohim said, the passengers whose flights got cancelled should settle the cancellation fee to the airline operators.
"The airport would provide no accommodation, or any returning fees to the passengers, but they could use any facilities here to rest for a while," Ahsanurrohim remarked, regarding the Mount Agung`s eruption impact to flights.
ANTARA
