Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia, threatening flights

Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia, threatening flights

Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung Volcano has erupted, sending an ash cloud seven kilometres into the air and threatening flights almost as much as this guy did yesterday with is *ahem* eruptions of another kind.

giphy

Anyway…

Indonesia has raised its flight warnings around Mount Sinabung to their highest level and authorities say it’s the volcanos biggest eruption this year.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin has also issued a “red notice” to airlines.

Nur Isnin Istianto, head of the regional airport authority says Kutacane airport in Aceh province has been closed but the wind direction has allowed Kualanamu, Meulaboh, and Silangit to remain open.

Mount Sunabung, located about 1900 kilometres northwest of the capital Jakarta, was dormant for centuries before erupting in 2010 and killing two people.

23 people have since died in eruptions and the area around the volcano has been off-limits for several years.

In November last year, more than 400 flights were cancelled when Bali’s main airport was closed amid warnings of eruptions at Mount Agung.

The ABC says the cancellations cost the island $1.5 billion, so let’s hope it doesn’t get THAT out of hand.

Meanwhile, check out these mesmerising videos of the ash cloud from twitter:

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