Mount Kerinci Eruption, Ministry Of Transportation: Nearby Airports And Flights Still Operating Normally

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ensures that airport infrastructure is still safe after the eruption of Mount Kerinci on the border of Kerinci Regency, Jambi, last Wednesday.

In fact, flight operations at the nearest airport from the mountain are in normal condition.

The Director General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation M. Kristi Endah Murni said that her party would continue to carry out intensive monitoring by involving Perum, the Indonesian Aviation Navigation Service Provider (Perum LPPNPI) or AirNav Indonesia.

Including, with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), and Airport Organizers and other related parties.

"We will continue to coordinate with relevant stakeholders to obtain information on updates on the development of the Mount Kerinci eruption. Until now, infrastructure and flight routes at the airport closest to the source of the eruption are still normal," he told reporters, Friday, January 13.

Based on information from the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) belonging to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), it is informed that there are no airports and flight lines in the distribution zone of the Mount Kerinci eruption.

Depati Parbo Airport, which is the closest airport to the source of the eruption, is still operating normally. Currently, the condition of the building is in normal condition and intensive monitoring will continue and preparation of contingency measures in accordance with applicable regulations," he said.

Even so, Kristi ordered the Padang Regional VI Airport Authority Office and all aviation stakeholders to continue to ensure flight safety and security after the eruption of Mount Kerinci.

"We still have to be aware of the impact of volcanic ash. Continue to improve coordination and be alert with the development of Mount Kerinci's eruption activity which can potentially affect flight operational activities," he said.

Meanwhile, Kristi said, Mount Marapi, which is still at the same Mountains location as Mount Kerinci, Bukit Barisan, also experienced an eruption on Thursday, January 12.

"Likewise with the eruption of Mount Marapi, until now, no airports and flight routes have been affected," said Kristi.