Bima Airport Closed Due to MT Sangeang Eruption

Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (Antara) - The Sultan Salahuddin airport in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, has been temporarily closed due to the eruption of Mount Sangiang Api, spewing volcanic ash up to 3,000 meters since Friday. "Starting today, the airport is closed temporarily due to Mt Sangeang Api's eruption," head of the regional disaster mitigation agency (BPBD), Wedha Magma Ardhi, said here on Saturday. He noted that the authorities had opted to stop the operation of the airport as an anticipatory measure, although the location of the airport is relatively far from the volcano. "According to sources, airport authorities fear volcanic ash from the mountain could disrupt maneuvers when a plane is about to land," he said. The airport authorities predict the closure would last for three days, but it may be longer if the eruptions continue, Ardhi said. "Indeed, the eruptions waned this afternoon, but several hours later it began again and so monitoring is continuing by a team from the volcanology center," he said. The airport serves Bima-Lombok, Bima-Kupang, Bima-Makassar routes every day. The 1,842 meter high mountain is continuing to produce volcanic ash, billowing up to 3,000 meters. The situation is threatening the health of the public and the government plans to evacuate people living in the fields on the mountain's slopes. The Wera sub-district, located west of the mountain, is most vulnerable because winds carrying volcanic ash blow westward. No makeshift tents have been set up because the number of evacuees is still small, while some evacuees also own homes in locations which are relatively safe. "Masks have been distributed and people have been warned to remain on alert because the mountain is still under an alert status," Ardhi said. (*) reporting by anwar maga