Dozens of Flights to and from Manado Delayed Due To Mount Ruang Eruption

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANADO -- Dozens of flights to and from Manado were delayed due to the eruption of Mount Ruang, in Sitaro Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Regency, North Sulawesi (Sulut).

"As announced through the Notice to Airmen (Notam), the temporary closure will be until 16.00 WITA," said GM Sam Ratulangi Airport (Samrat) Maya Damayanti, in Manado, Thursday (18/4/2024).

Baca Juga

He said at the start, the management only closed until 10.00 WITA. However, considering the natural conditions, after coordinating with all stakeholders at the airport, Samrat Airport was closed until 16.00 WITA.

He said that from this closure, 15 flights to and from Manado experienced delays. "There are eight departure and seven arrival routes experiencing delays, including international flights," said Maya.

Samrat Airport together with the Airport Authority and BMKG as well as airlines continue to coordinate to take the next steps.

A passenger from Manado who was going to Sorong, Papua, Marcelina Kondoahi (32 years) had to experience a delay in her departure due to the eruption of Mount Ruang. He wanted to fly using a TransNusa aircraft with flight number 8B-272.

"Hopefully the situation will improve quickly, and flights can return to normal," said Marcelina.

Khairun, a passenger from Manado who was going to Jakarta using Garuda Airlines, said, this is a natural condition that we cannot avoid. "We support the airport's efforts to close flights for human safety," he said.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) issued a tsunami warning after a series of explosive eruptions accompanied by hot clouds occurred on Mount Ruang in Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi. PVMBG data shows that during the last 24 hours there have been five eruptions with a height of 1,800 meters to 3,000 meters from the peak of Mount Ruang.

In the period 1-17 April 2024, PVMBG recorded the number of earthquakes on Mount Ruang as 1,439 deep volcanic earthquakes, 569 shallow volcanic earthquakes, six local tectonic earthquakes and 167 distant tectonic earthquakes.