KUALA LUMPUR – Clouds of volcanic ash following the Mount Ruang eruption are moving toward Kota Kinabalu airspace in Sabah, posing a risk to aircraft safety.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said in a statement that airlines and aircraft operators need to monitor meteorological updates, advisories and information related to volcanic ash issued by the authorities.
Members of the public involved in flights to or from the affected areas are also advised to stay informed about developments in volcanic eruptions and the current flight schedules issued by airlines.
This comes after dozens of flights between Kuala Lumpur and East Malaysia were cancelled, with thousands of travellers stranded in several airports in the country.
Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities are desperately trying to evacuate tens of thousands of residents from the affected areas in and out of Manado city – including the remote island of Tagulandang – in north Sulawesi.
Indonesia also warned of a possible tsunami in the coastal areas off Sulawesi as a result of the eruptions.
Mount Ruang has been spewing ash since Tuesday. – April 18, 2024