SIKKA: Dozens of flights have been cancelled and evacuations ordered after Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia erupted, sending a column of ash 10 kilometres into the sky, authorities mentioned on Wednesday (Jun 18).
The 1,584-metre volcano on Flores island erupted on Tuesday, prompting officers to lift its alert stage to the very best on a four-tier scale.
“On account of volcano exercise of Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara, a number of flights at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport are cancelled,” airport operator Angkasa Pura Indonesia mentioned in an announcement.
Flights operated by Jetstar and Virgin Australia, together with providers by Air India, Tigerair, Juneyao Airways and Air New Zealand, have been affected, in accordance with the Bali worldwide airport web site.
Jetstar confirmed it had delayed flights to and from Bali, with expectations that the ash cloud would clear by Wednesday night.
AirAsia additionally mentioned it had cancelled or rescheduled flights to Bali, Lombok and Labuan Bajo, and was helping affected passengers.
A complete of 32 home and worldwide flights at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport have been cancelled. The airport remained open, with a customer support agent telling AFP, “It will depend on the route and in addition the airline.”
Close by, Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere was closed till Thursday morning. Two further native airports on Flores have been additionally quickly shut, Indonesia’s transport ministry mentioned.
The eruption disrupted journey for about 14,000 passengers.
