Multiple flights connecting Kuala Lumpur International Airport to destinations in Sabah and Sarawak faced cancellations today due to the eruption of Mount Ruang in Indonesia. The volcanic activity disrupted travel plans for numerous passengers, prompting Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia to take necessary measures.
Video of the eruption circulating online, where netizens equate to the end of time due to its extremity:
Gunung Ruang North Sulawesi erupted pic.twitter.com/fe8k8KPqJB
Malaysia Airlines was compelled to cancel a total of 19 flights, affecting routes to and from Sabah and Sarawak. Among the impacted flights were those connecting Kuala Lumpur to Tawau (TWU), Kota Kinabalu (BKI), and Sandakan (SDK) in Sabah, as well as Kuching (KCH), Miri (MYY), and Bintulu (BTU) in Sarawak.
Similarly, AirAsia, facing 16 cancellations, took steps to assist affected passengers. Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tawau, as well as routes to and from Kota Kinabalu, experienced disruptions. Passengers were offered the flexibility to make a one-time change to their travel dates within 30 days from the original departure date, subject to seat availability. Additionally, affected passengers were provided the option to retain the value of their booking in a credit account for future travel, valid for redemption within two years.
Mount Ruang, located in North Sulawesi Province, experienced multiple eruptions over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting authorities to elevate the alert level to its highest point. The volcanic activity led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents from surrounding areas. With the eruption column reaching more than 1.6 kilometers into the sky, concerns for public safety necessitated swift action.
Source: NST
