Volcanic ash forces flight cancellations and delays in Bali. Image: The Guardian.
(The Post News)– The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has caused significant travel disruptions, with over 20 flights to and from Bali canceled or delayed. The volcano erupted on Tuesday, sending ash 11 km into the air, and again on Wednesday morning. As a result, the volcanology agency has raised the alert level to its highest, and three airports in East Nusa Tenggara province have been closed.
At least 26 flights, both international and domestic, have been impacted, affecting over 14,000 passengers. This includes flights from countries such as India, Singapore, and Australia, with at least 14 flights to Bali affected.
Several airlines have been forced to cancel or delay flights due to the eruption. Singapore Airlines cancelled four flights between Singapore and Bali, while its subsidiary Scoot cancelled flights to Bali and Lombok. JetStar, a low-cost carrier owned by Qantas, also cancelled morning flights to Bali from Australia and warned of potential delays to afternoon flights.
JetStar expects the ash cloud to clear by evening, according to their latest forecast. Meanwhile, AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia Indonesia have also been impacted, with several flights to and from Bali, Lombok, and Labuan Bajo cancelled or rescheduled.
The Indonesian government has closed three airports in East Nusa Tenggara province until Thursday, prioritising passenger safety. Additionally, local authorities have evacuated dozens of residents from two villages near the volcano due to the eruption. The affected villages were covered in thick ash, gravel, and sand.
The streets in the affected villages were heavily impacted, with thick ash, gravel, and sand covering the area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. This recent eruption follows a previous one in May, and it’s not surprising given Indonesia’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to seismic activity.
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