Jakarta
(ANTARA News) - The airplane expected to fly Chief Minister for People`s
Welfare Agung Laksono could not make its flight due to thick volcanic ashes of
Mount Sinabang which erupted in Tanah Karo district, North Sumatra, at 0.15
early on Sunday.
"I
am still at Pinang Suri airport, South Tapanuli because my plane could not be
flown due to thick volcanic ashes," the coordinating minister for people`s
welfare said when contacted by ANTARA on the phone here on Sunday.
Agung
explained he was in North Sumatra as part of his Ramadan Safari in his capacity
as people`s welfare coordinating minister.
"I
am here on a Ramadan safari in Sibolga, North Sumatra, and it happened by
chance that Mt Sinabang erupted. Because I am still in North Sumatra, I decided
to inspect the eruption location," he said.
He said
that in order to inspect the eruption site in Tanah Karo, he should change his
flight direction and fly from South Tapanuli to Medan.
"But
the Susi Air which would fly me to Medan at 12.00 hours could not conduct a
flight due to volcanic clouds of the eruption," he said.
As an
alternative, he said, he should take another flight that would transit at
Pinang Suri airport (South Tapanuli) on its flight from Nias to Medan.
"If
it is impossible for us to use an airplane we will take a land
transportation," he said.
Mount
Sinabang in North Sumatra`s district of Tanah Karo erupted at 0.15 early on
Sunday.
About 12
thousand local residents around the mount valleys have been evacuated to safer
places. One resident was reported dead during the evacuation due to a breathing
problem.
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