Anak Krakatoa eruption raises fresh concerns for Malaysians flying to Indonesia

 

AND just when Malaysians are having hopes of the haze dissipating soon, Anak Krakatoa in Indonesia decided that the situation should get worse.

This is captured in the latest announcement by odantraveltheworld on threads, warning everyone who is flying to Jakarta or transiting through Indonesia this week to check their flight status.

“Indonesia’s airspace is currently in chaos after Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait erupted violently, forcing dozens of domestic and international flights to be cancelled immediately,” said the netizen.

According to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta’s main airport, numerous flights had to be suspended after tests confirmed the presence of volcanic ash on the runway and in the surrounding airspace.

odantraveltheworld continued, stating that the eruption sent thick ash plumes up to 6,000 metres towards the north-east, in the direction of Jakarta/Banten.

Clusters of particles were detected reaching 15,000 metres to the north-west, towards Lampung and Bengkulu.

odantraveltheworld went on to explain why flights were cancelled. Apparently volcanic ash is not ordinary dust. 

It contains tiny fragments of glass and rock that can melt inside aircraft engines, causing them to fail, while also damaging cockpit navigation sensors.

That said, numerous flights to Singapore, Malaysia and Australia from Jakarta and regional airports such as Lampung have been delayed or cancelled for safety reasons.

Echoing this phenomenon was threads user nuradilazawawi who advised Malaysians to stay at home due to the worsening air quality in Kuala Lumpur.

“Plan to stay at home today and try to reduce outdoor activities. Take care of your health, everyone. Drink plenty of water, and if you do go out, don’t forget to wear a mask. If you have asthma, make sure you always have your inhaler with you,” she added.

Returning to odantraveltheworld, the netizen advised passengers not to rush to the airport unless they already have a confirmation for a new schedule. Most airlines offer free rescheduling or travel credit.

Also,  odantraveltheworld stressed that they should know their passenger rights. “Natural disasters are considered a force majeure event, so cash compensation may generally not apply. However, you may be entitled to request a free change of travel dates,” it added.

“If your flight is delayed for more than 24 hours, check whether your travel insurance covers emergency accommodation costs arising from volcanic ash disruptions,” it said.

Lastly, odantraveltheworld advised readers to tag their friends and families who need to know more about this issue before they end up stranded at the airport.— Focus Malaysia