Minister: Indonesia Conducts 30-Minute Volcanic Ash Tests at All Airports
Indonesia conducts volcanic ash tests every 30 minutes at all airports as Anak Krakatau ash threatens to disrupt flight operations beyond eight closur
Indonesia's Transportation Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, announced that the country is conducting 30-minute tests for volcanic ash at all airports, not just the eight affected by Mount Anak Krakatau's eruption. This intensified monitoring follows a review of coordination between the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and aviation stakeholders.
The Minister stated that the wind direction has changed from west to east, moving at five knots altitude, which has increased concerns about the ash's potential expansion. As a result, the Ministry of Transportation has temporarily closed eight airports until midnight Western Indonesian Time. These airports include Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, and Radin Inten II Airport.
The Minister emphasized that the government will continue to monitor the situation every four hours and provide updates on flight operations, with safety remaining the top priority.
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