Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Transportation Ministry on Friday temporarily closed Minangkabau International Airport in Padang, West Sumatra, after Mount Marapi erupted and spewed volcanic ash.
"The eruption of Mt. Marapi is dynamic, so we will continue to monitor this situation, and coordinate intensively with relevant stakeholders in terms of ensuring aspects of safety, security, and flight comfortability," Director General of Air Transportation at the ministry M. Kristi Endah Murni informed here on Friday.
She said that Mt. Marapi on Friday released volcanic ash again, as determined from a test conducted by the Airport Authority Office Region VI in Padang.
Minangkabau International Airport's closure was announced on Friday through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The notice, No. B0115/24 NOTAMN, stated that the airport would remain closed from 2:15 p.m. local time until further notice.
According to the volcanic eruption notice issued by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), Mount Marapi spewed an ash column reaching 500 meters above the peak, or 3,391 m above sea level.
The thick ash column was observed to be gray and moving toward the southwest.
Murni said that her side, through the Airport Authority Region VI Padang, will continue to monitor and observe the development on the field at 30-minute to 1-hour intervals at several points around the airport.
She added that the airport has been temporarily closed several times due to volcanic activity at Mount Marapi.
"I hope that the public, especially prospective passengers, can understand this force majeure situation. We received information that there are 16 flights potentially affected by the airport closure, (and) we continue to update this," she said.
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Translator: Adimas P, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
