REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Two airports in East Java Province Blimbing Sari Airport in Banyuwangi and Notohadinegoro Jember Airport -- were closed due to volcanic ash spewed from Mount Agung in Karangasem, Bali Province. It will be closed until around 5 p.m. local time.

"In addition to the Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, information has been received of two airports in East Java Province being closed until around 5 p.m. local time," Head of Public Relations of the Climatology, Meteorology, and Geophysics Agency Hary T. Djatmiko stated here on Friday.

Notice to Airmen (Notam), or new information concerning ,circumstances, changes, or situation of an airport, has been issued by the Ministry of Transportation for both airports in connection with the eruption of Mount Agung.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency conducted monitoring through the Himawari satellite that recorded the movement of volcanic dust of Mount Agung in Karangasem, until 5 a.m. local time in the southwest and west direction away from Bali Island. "Based on observation data of the Class I Meteorology Station Ngurah Rai of Denpasar, no volcanic ash was observed," he explained.

Based on observations until midnight local time, the weather in the area was cloudy and rains and low-intensity winds blew towards the west.

The I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport was earlier officially closed since Friday from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time due to smoke and volcanic ash being continuously spewed from Mount Agung. Mount Agung blew smoke since Thursday (June 28) at 10:30 a.m. local time until Friday morning, causing ash rain in the west to southwest direction.

The decision to close the airport was reached during a coordination meeting to discuss efforts to mitigate the impacts of Mount Agung's eruption on Friday morning at 12:05 a.m. local time. Evaluation will be conducted again on Friday at 12 p.m. local time.

The airport was closed due to security concerns. Several airlines have also decided to cancel their flights on Thursday (June 28) owing to security reasons.

The departures and arrivals of 48 cancelled flights, with 8,334 passengers, include 38 international flights, with 6,611 passengers, and 10 domestic flights, with 1,723 passengers.

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