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Officials Worry that Indonesian Volcano Eruption Will Delay Travel

Dormant volcano Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra, Indonesia, erupted on Sunday and again today, spurting ash 1.5 miles up into the air. It was worse than the eruption a day earlier, but it hasn't caused any major problems at Polonia International Airport in nearby Medan.

However, officials are worried that if the volcano continues to erupt, the thick ash will cause flight disruptions. Officials also worry that the eruption could cause problems for the estimated millions of people who plan to travel from Jakarta to native villages to mark the September 9 end of Ramadan.

Indonesia sits on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines around the Pacific Basin so this volcanic eruption isn't exactly a fluke. However, before Sunday, the volcano had been inactive for the past 400 years. The recent eruptions have caused two deaths and the forced evacuation of more than 21,000 people living in the North Sumatra village.

If you plan on flying anywhere near the area today, play it safe and check with the airport ahead of time.

Related Stories:
· Indonesian volcano erupts again, many evacuated [Reuters]
· 2 die after Indonesian volcano erupts [CNN]
· Volcano warning in Sumatra as Mount Sinabung erupts [AsiaNews.it]

[Photo: AsiaNews.it]