BMKG Monitors The Spread Of Volcanic Marapi Ash Potentially Towards BIM

Mount Marapi spewed volcanic ash on Sunday (14/1/2024). BETWEEN/Muhammad Zulfikar).

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of the Class II Minangkabau Meteorological Station, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), continues to monitor the spread of volcanic ash due to the eruption of Mount Marapi which has the potential to lead to the southwest or to Minangkabau International Airport (BIM).

"BMKG continues to provide information regarding the spread of volcanic ash which is monitored based on satellite monitoring and innovative modeling from Jakarta," said the Coordinator for Observation and Information at the Minangkabau Class II Meteorological Station Yudha Nugraha in Padang as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 18.

After that, said Yudha, BMKG together with related parties carried out direct validation in BIM through observations or so-called paper tests.

If the paper is positive for volcanic ash, he continued, it will immediately be coordinated with airport authorities, including the possibility of closing the airport if it endangers flights.

Currently BMKG Minangkabau Class II Meteorological Station is seeing the movement of Angin Monsun Asia from northeast heading to the southwest or towards BIM located in Padang Pariaman Regency.

The Asian Monsun Wind phenomenon also affects or causes high intensity of rainfall in areas that are passed.

"Despite the potential movement of the Asian Monsun Wind, BMKG continues to make observations if there is a warning of the spread of volcanic ash," he said.

Since Mount Marapi has a height of 2,892 meters above the eruption on December 3, 2023, airport authorities have closed BIM operations twice. The first closure occurred on Friday, December 22, 2023.

The authorities again closed domestic and foreign flight activities on January 5, 2024 due to the spread of volcanic ash from Mount Marapi.