Indonesia
has been forced to close two airports until Thursday because of ash from an
erupting volcano on a nearby island. More than 100 flights have been grounded.
Meteorological
authorities say both Bali's international airport and Selaparang airport in
West Nusa Tenggara will remained closed until at least Thursday.
"The
wind has blown the volcanic ash towards Bali in such a way that it covers the
sky around the airport, making conditions unsuitable for flying," Bali
airport official Yulfiadi told the AFP news agency.
#Bali airport to remain closed through Thursday morning due to #volcano. #Indonesia
https://t.co/MHru15wPTT pic.twitter.com/474sRR0nLz
— Bob James (@NotThatBobJames) November 4, 2015
A total of
106 flights scheduled to take off Wednesday were canceled, including 59
international flights. Ash from a different volcano had stranded thousands of passengers on Bali for days during the peak holiday season in July.
Airlines
are concerned that ash could damage jet engines, even causing spontaneous
failure in some cases. The eruption began Sunday.
"Volcanic
ash, even if it's invisible, is very dangerous for aircraft," transport
ministry spokesman Julius Barata told the DPA news agency.
Air traffic
is regularly disrupted by volcanic activity in Indonesia, which is located in a
basin of the Pacific Ocean home to about 130 active volcanoes, the greatest
concentration in the world.
jar/jr (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
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