Flights at Surabaya Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java, were not disturbed by Mount Semeru’s eruption in Lumajang, East Java, on Sunday.

“As per the information from the Apron Movement Controller (AMC), no flights were affected as of 4:11 p.m. local time,  and Juanda Airport was operating normally,” state-run airport operator AP I Stakeholder Relations Manager at Juanda Airport Yuristo said.

State aircraft navigation provider AirNav Indonesia Corporate Secretary Rosedi in a written statement stated that his party had issued ASHTAM No. VAWR3537, or a special message notifying volcanic activities, for areas that could be affected by the eruption, namely Juanda International Airport Surabaya and Abdurahman Saleh Airport in Malang.

“Based on the coordination and temporary inspection at the site,  personnel, buildings, and flight navigation facilities are in a safe condition, including runways for take-off and landing,” he said.

As of 1:30 p.m., flight operations and flight navigation services at Juanda and Abdurrahman Saleh Airports were running normally, he added.

“Personnel in Surabaya and Malang branches continue to be on standby to anticipate other possible eruptions, as East Java is quite often shaken by earthquakes, eruptions, and hot clouds,” he said.

On Sunday at around 02:46 a.m., Mt. Semeru emitted hot cloud avalanches reaching 1,500 meters above the volcano peak and caused several eruptive earthquakes between 02:46 a.m. and 6 a.m. local time.

The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) on Sunday raised the status of Mount Semeru from Level 3 or Alert to Level 4 or Caution.

According to PVMBG, the magma supply in Mount Semeru is relatively high, as seen from  the high eruption rate. There is also an accumulation of volcanic material at the summit.

PVMBG urged the public to avoid doing activities within a radius of 17 kilometers in Besuk Kobokan and within 19 kilometers in Kali Lanang.

Source: Antara News