LABUAN BAJO, RAKYAT NEWS – A total of 30 flights from Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport were canceled due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Nusa Tenggara Timur.

The temporary closure of the airport, lasting until 8:00 PM local time on November 10, 2024, was confirmed by Ceppy Triono, Head of the Komodo Airport Operations Unit.

Ceppy explained that the closure was a precautionary measure taken after a Collaborative Decision-Making (CDM) meeting involving the airport authorities, AirNav, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and airline operators. The volcanic ash cloud, emanating from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, covered the airspace above Flores Island, posing a significant risk to air traffic.

Maria Seran, Head of the Komodo Meteorological Station, provided further insights, stating that satellite monitoring had shown the volcanic ash spreading across the airspace of Manggarai Barat in West Flores. The ash cloud, which had intensified in the past few hours, was also heading south towards Sumba Island and the eastern parts of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB). BMKG officials advised the local population to wear masks when outdoors due to the persistent ash fallout.

“Given the continuous monitoring of the volcanic eruption, the closure of the airport was necessary to ensure the safety of flights and passengers,” Ceppy stated. The airport had previously been closed for a similar reason following another eruption on November 4, 2024, reopening on November 5. The recent closure, which started on November 9, marks the second temporary halt in less than a week due to the volcanic activity.