Mount Merapi in Indonesia erupts, airports closes and flights cancelled

Saturday, May 12, 2018

The eruption of Mount Merapi in central Java led to flight cancellation, diversion or delay to thousands of travellers to and from Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Yesterday morning the 9,610 ft volcano considered to be the most active in Indonesia erupted. Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) mentioned that ‘ash rain’ had fallen majorly in the south to southwest of the peak crater of the Mount Merapi.

People in the vicinity  were requested by the organization to maintain calm, use mask while performing activities outside the home.

The Yogyakarta airport was temporarily closed and Air Asia cancelled services from Bali, Jakarta and Singapore. However, its departure from Kuala Lumpur to Yogyakarta was asked to return to the Malaysian capital.

Around 14 flights were grounded by Garuda, the Indonesian national airline and the carrier mentioned that the flights to and from the Yogyakarta was cancelled as the company wished to remain committed to prioritise the safety aspects of aviations operations keeping in consideration the distribution of the volcanic ash which is risky to the aviation safety.

Further Garduda Indonesia will keep monitoring the situation and developments related to the volcanic activity.

An eruption of the same volcano killed 347 people in 2010 and there were widespread disruption to domestic and international flights.

In 2017, tens of thousands of travellers were stranded on the island of Bali because of the fears of Mount Agung eruption.

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