Ternate Airport Closed Following Volcanic Eruptions

Ternate, N Maluku (Antara) - The Babullah airport of Ternate, North Maluku was closed on Friday following eruptions of Mount Gamalama on the island. Volcanic ashes covered the airstrip as thick as 5 cm following the eruptions beginning Thursday night that could endanger aircraft on landing or takeoff, airport official Taslim Badaruddin said here on Friday. On Friday morning the volcano still spewed volcanic materials scattering over the island including the city of Ternate and the airport, Taslim said. A Batik Air aircraft took off at 08.45 local time for Makassar before the airport was declared closed at 09.00, he said. Two other aircraft including of those of Sriwijaya Air and Ekspres Air were to take off at 09.00 but the ashes had been too thick that it was considered risky. The Srijaya Air to fly to Jakarta and Express Air to nearby island of South Halmaera had to delay departure, Taslim said. "Meanwhile, there were four arrivals expected at the airport including Garuda Indonesia from Jakarta and Makassar and Sriwijaya Air from Jakarta and Ambon cancelled because of the condition," he said. (*)