Bali Airspace Safe for Flights Despite Mount Agung`s Status: BNPB
5 December 2017 18:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced that Bali`s airspace is safe for commercial flight activities despite the highest alert status of Mount Agung.
“However, it is the authority of the airline if the company decides to cancel a flight,” said BNPB Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho today on Tuesday, December 5.
According to Sutopo, both Bali Ngurah Rai Airport and Lombok Airport continues to operate normally. However, 56 international and domestic flights were canceled.
Read: Mount Agung Erupts, 4 Airliners Cancel Flight to and from Bali
Previously, Ngurah Rai Airport Spokesman Aire Ahsanurrohim said that his management will evaluate the option to close down the operations of the airport every six hours. The airport continues to communicate the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) regarding the latest situation of Mount Agung.
The BNPB said that the government has prepared several procedures if the status of Mount Agung intensifies. “The government has readied several contingency plans.”
Based on the PVMBG's observation, the firelight intensity at the peak of the Bali volcano has decreased lately. It suggests that it is either caused by partly freezing magma throughout the crater.
RIANI SANUSI PUTRI | BRAM SETIAWAN