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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Energy & Infrastructure

Transport Minister: Sea Ferry Routes Not Yet Affected by Anak Krakatau Ash

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said ferry services across the Sunda Strait were operating normally and had not been significantly affected by volcanic ash.
  • The ministry had not added ships between Merak and Bakauheni because passenger numbers were falling as the eruption continued.
  • Six airports were temporarily closed, while Kertajati, Ahmad Yani and Juanda airports were prepared as alternatives.

Ferry services across the Sunda Strait continued normally on Sunday despite ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, Indonesia’s transport minister said. Dudy Purwagandhi said sea crossings had not yet been significantly affected, unlike air transport, which had already seen six temporary airport closures.

Regarding the ferry crossing, so far it has not been affected. The crossing is still operating normally.

· Dudy PurwagandhiIndonesia’s transport minister describes the status of ferry services across the Sunda Strait.

The Ministry of Transportation had not added ships between Merak on Java and Bakauheni on Sumatra. Dudy said passenger numbers appeared to be declining as the eruption and ashfall continued, with many travelers apparently canceling crossings in either direction.

Officials were continuing to monitor ferry operations in the Sunda Strait. Although conditions were considered relatively safe, Dudy urged port authorities and ferry operators to remain alert and provide passengers with updated operational information. He also said operators should not force services to continue if conditions became unsuitable and urged them to provide masks to help protect passengers’ health.

We have not added more ferry vessels from Merak to Bakauheni because the current trend is that passenger numbers are declining with the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.

· Dudy PurwagandhiThe minister explains why additional ships have not been deployed.

The six temporarily closed airports were Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten II, Budiarto, Pondok Cabe and Husein Sastranegara. As a follow-up measure, the ministry prepared Kertajati Airport in Majalengka, West Java, Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, Central Java, and Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java, as alternatives.

We urge people not to force operations if conditions do not allow it. We also urge that masks be provided to help protect passengers’ health.

· Dudy PurwagandhiThe minister calls for caution and health protection during the ashfall.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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