Flights Resume Despite Volcanic Ash in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Despite Mount Merapi's latest eruptions, flights to and from the Yogyakarta region are still operating. But some experts warn that the volcanic ash may make air travel risky.
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano erupted ash again on Thursday, but it hasn’t stopped air travel to and from Yogyakarta.
Flights at Yogyakarta's airport are running normally.
[Agus Adriyanto, General Manager, Adi Sutjipto Airport]:
"We have yet to declare that the volcanic ash is disrupting the flights. As you can see the flights are running normally, on time. All engines and planes have been checked, they are all clean. This is part of the regulations that all engines and planes must be checked."
Experts say Thursday's eruption was stronger than the deadly one last October 26 and the explosive one the day before. With unpredictable patterns, they warned that Merapi's powerful explosions could continue.
On Wednesday the danger radius around the volcano was extended to about nine miles.
[Raden Sukhyar, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources]:
"The eruptions continue, today was an explosive eruption. From the results we can see the vertical ashes are as high as four miles, volcanic materials falling from the crater, and rocks headed to the west side of the volcano. And dust went as far as 93 miles."
But some experts warn that the volcanic ash may not be safe for flights.
[Raden Sukhyar, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources]:
"From the sea level the height of the ashes could reach 10 kilometers (32,808 feet) and the safe zone for airplane is 30,000 feet, so I think it is quite risky to fly over the volcano."
Evacuation shelters in the extended danger zone must be moved farther, with current barracks already cramped as nearly 74,000 villagers have fled their homes.
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano erupted ash again on Thursday, but it hasn’t stopped air travel to and from Yogyakarta.
Flights at Yogyakarta's airport are running normally.
[Agus Adriyanto, General Manager, Adi Sutjipto Airport]:
"We have yet to declare that the volcanic ash is disrupting the flights. As you can see the flights are running normally, on time. All engines and planes have been checked, they are all clean. This is part of the regulations that all engines and planes must be checked."
Experts say Thursday's eruption was stronger than the deadly one last October 26 and the explosive one the day before. With unpredictable patterns, they warned that Merapi's powerful explosions could continue.
On Wednesday the danger radius around the volcano was extended to about nine miles.
[Raden Sukhyar, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources]:
"The eruptions continue, today was an explosive eruption. From the results we can see the vertical ashes are as high as four miles, volcanic materials falling from the crater, and rocks headed to the west side of the volcano. And dust went as far as 93 miles."
But some experts warn that the volcanic ash may not be safe for flights.
[Raden Sukhyar, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources]:
"From the sea level the height of the ashes could reach 10 kilometers (32,808 feet) and the safe zone for airplane is 30,000 feet, so I think it is quite risky to fly over the volcano."
Evacuation shelters in the extended danger zone must be moved farther, with current barracks already cramped as nearly 74,000 villagers have fled their homes.