The Impact Of The Men's Lewotobi Mountain Eruption, The Ministry Of Transportation Prepares Alternative Sea Transportation In Flores

Erupsi Gunung Lewotobi Laki-laki Di NTT (dok BNPB)

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has prepared alternative sea transportation as a step to ensure smooth transportation and logistics transportation due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"As long as several airports and flights stop temporarily, sea transportation is an alternative while still prioritizing safety aspects," said Head of the Public Communication and Information Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation Budi Rahardjo, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 11.

He said that the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Male was reported to still occur until Sunday (10/11). This has an impact on the cessation of the operations of several airports and flights around the eruption area.

To overcome this, the Ministry of Transportation together with relevant stakeholders continue to seek alternatives to support the transportation of people and goods, one of which is by sea transportation.

Currently, route adjustments have been made to KM Egon, which regularly serves the Waingapu-Lembar route to Labuan Bajo-Lembar. The ship, which is scheduled to arrive at Lembar Harbor on Monday (11/11) at 18.00 WITA, is carrying 100 tourists in Labuan Bajo.

Then, the roro ship belonging to Dharma Lautan which docked in Labuan Bajo on November 11 and 12, 2024, will be given a dispensation of the number of passengers, according to the number of safety equipment available.

Fast boats were also deployed to serve the Labuan Bajo-Sape route, which is then directed to un-affected airports such as Bima or Lembar.

Not only that, the Surabaya Marine and Coast Guard Base (PLP) was also asked to dispatch the KNP patrol boat. Chundamani to Bali on Monday (11/11) in the morning, with an estimated journey of 30 hours to Labuan Bajo.

Then, to strengthen coordination, communication, and synchronization of evacuations, the Labuan Bajo Port Authority Office and Port Authority (KSOP) opened a Sea Transportation Readiness Post at the passenger terminal, and issued a Safety and Broadcast Notice (NTM) through the coastal radio station (SROP) every 4 hours.

Meanwhile, until now airport operations are still adjusting the situation of volcanic ash eruption. Based on reports from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the height of the ash column was observed to be ~ 1,500 m above the peak ($3,084 m above sea level).

The ash column is observed to be gray with thick intensity leaning towards the north. This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 14.8 mm and a temporary duration of ~ 10 minutes 15 seconds.

Regarding this, as of Monday (11/11) at 06.12, Airnav Indonesia has issued information regarding airports that are open or closed due to being affected around the eruption area.

The airports that are open include Gewayantana Larantuka Airport, Wunopito Lewoleba Airport, Tambolaka Airport, and Waingapu Airport. Meanwhile, airports that are closed include Komodo International Airport, Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport, H. Hasan Ende Airport, Soa Airport, and Frans Sales Airport Lega.

To overcome this, apart from sea transportation, other alternative discussions are being carried out, such as increasing flight frequency at the nearest airport that is not affected.

If until Monday (11/11) flights from Labuan Bajo cannot be carried out, it is open to the possibility to re-adjust the KM Egon route. So after arriving in Lembar, the ship returned to Labuan Bajo," said Budi.