TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has officially reopened on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The airport was temporarily closed on Monday, November 11, 2024, due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki.

“We inform you that Komodo International Airport has reopened today to serve you,” the airport announced on its official Instagram account, @bandarakomodo on Thursday morning.

A total of 12 flights were initially scheduled to depart from Komodo Airport on the reopening day. According to the Flight Information Display System (FIDS), five flights were bound for Denpasar, Bali, five for Jakarta, one for Bajawa, NTT, and one for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

However, six of these flights were subsequently canceled, including those to Denpasar at 8:55 AM and 5:35 PM, Kuala Lumpur at 2:55 PM, and Jakarta at 3:25 PM, 4:35 PM, and 5:55 PM. The airport advises travelers to verify flight schedules with their respective airlines.

The closure of Komodo Airport was implemented following a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the government due to the volcanic ash from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki affecting flight operations.

Flight operations were initially expected to resume on Monday afternoon, but the closure persisted until Wednesday, November 13, 2024. This extended closure was attributed to the renewed eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 7:18 PM.

According to Muhammad Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the eruption produced loud noises heard up to Maumere City, about 60 kilometers away from the volcano. The twin-peaked volcano also generated two lava flows, each reaching distances of 3.8 and 3.9 kilometers.

“Continuous eruptions are caused by the current open system of Mount Lewotobi, which allows for direct magma supply leading to eruptions. This is indicated by the absence of shallow or deep volcanic earthquakes,” Wafid explained on Wednesday.

Dinda Shabrina contributed to the writing of this article.

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