Borobudur temple has been temporarily closed — Credit: SX, Daniel Bouwmeester
THICK layers of ash from a volcanic eruption are raining down on East and Central Java, forcing flight cancellations and attraction closures while local trade players scramble to accommodate affected travellers.
Mount Kelud near Kediri, East Java erupted at 22.50 last night, throwing ash and gravel across the island as winds picked up the debris.
At least three airports – Yogyakarta Adisucipto, Adisumarmo Solo and Juanda airport in Surabaya – were temporarily closed this morning pending further notice as volcanic ash blanketed the facilities. Jakarta and Bali airports, however, are not affected.
Garuda Indonesia announced flights to Jogjakarta, Solo, Malang and Surabaya are cancelled today. AirAsia has also cancelled all flights to Surabaya, Semarang and Jogjakarta and is offering passengers affected by flight cancellations the option of changing flight dates to flights within five days of the original schedule without charges or a deposit in the form of credit shell equivalent to the value of the confirmed booking. Credit shell is valid for three months from the date of issue.
“We have group tours in Jogjakarta and Central Java at the moment. We are still coordinating with on-site guides to see which attractions are closed and what routes are open,” Ricky Setiawanto, director of business development at Panorama Destination, toldTTG Asia e-Daily this morning.
Dewatha Tours and Travel Jogjakarta’s president director, Bagus Adhi Baliantoro, shared: “It caught me by surprise. I don’t know when exactly it started…ash was already piling up when I woke up this morning.
“The situation is worse than when Merapi Mountain in Jogjakarta erupted in 2010. The ash is so thick, and places of interest like Borobudur and Prambanan Temples are temporarily closed.”
A number of hotels in Jogjakarta were reportedly running at 100 per cent occupancy last night and are fully booked until the end of the month, as this is the high season for MICE in the city.
Bagus Dewa Karuniawan , director of sales and marketing at the 247-room Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta, said: “We were full last night, and 80 rooms are scheduled to check out today and a big wedding group will check in today. We are working our best to accommodate those who might need to extend their stay, and those who have booked with us today.”
Eastparc Hotel general manager, Erny Kusmastuti Wasiat, said: “With the Jogjakarta and Solo airports closed, movements are disrupted…Our priority now is to try and transfer groups out of Semarang airport and open options for in-house guests to extend their stay.”
