AIRPORTS in the area surrounding Sangeang Island have shut and airlines are being forced to suspend operations after Mt Seangeang’s eruption last Friday that sent smoke and ash shooting up to 13km in the air.
Sangeang Island is approximately 50km from Bima, Sumbawa Island. There have been no reports or casualties from the eruption, but a shower of ashes descended early Saturday morning and was blown over to cities including Bima and Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, as well as Komodo National Park.
Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport in Bima, and Tambolaka Airport are temporarily closed, and domestic flights in and out of the area covering Sangeang, Flores and Sumba have been cancelled.
Garuda Indonesia announced last night that all flights serving Bima, Tambolaka, Labuan Bajo, Kupang and Ende from Bali and Lombok have been suspended until further notice.
Destination Asia Indonesia reported most tours into Komodo Island are now on hold but are expected to resume soon.
International flights between Darwin and Indonesia have also been suspended, but the latest reports indicate that domestic flights in north-west Australia and international services to and from Darwin will be restored as the ash plume disperses.
All other major destinations in Indonesia such as Lombok and Bali, and any other islands further west, are not affected by the ash.
