Airport on Flores reopens<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post\/Kupang<\/p>\n
Waioty Airport in Maumere, Sikka Regency on Flores island,
\nresumed operations on Friday after it was closed for four days
\ndue to Mount Egon's eruptions.<\/p>\n
Pelita Air Service and Merpati Nusantara Airlines flew in and
\nout on the same day, said Sikka Regent Alex Longginus.<\/p>\n
The regent said that the airport workers had already begun to
\nclean up the tarmac. Waioty Airport is located some 10 kilometers
\nwest of Mount Egon.<\/p>\n
\"The volcanic activity still continues, but the thick ash is
\nbeing blown in a different direction now, as a result, the
\nairport is no longer affected, and allows us to open it,\" said
\nAlex.<\/p>\n
As of Friday, the volcano was still spewing thick smoke 2,500
\nmeters into the sky.<\/p>\n
Mount Egon, one of 129 volcanoes nationwide, has been belching
\nout ash for almost two weeks, forcing some 2,000 residents on the
\nslopes of the mountain to flee to safer areas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Regent Alex expressed concern that some 2,000
\nrefugees, who were still living in refugee camps in the regency,
\nwould suffer from famine, as rice stocks were apparently running
\nout.<\/p>\n
\"We have filed a request to the central government in order
\nfor them to give us more rice as the warehouse has only one ton
\nleft. The stock is enough for one or two days, so we are in
\nurgent need,\" said Alex.<\/p>\n
Besides food concerns, Alex also worried about the spread of
\nrespiratory and skin diseases in the refugee camps that have
\nbegun to afflict the refugees.<\/p>\n
He said that some refugees had already been treated at local
\ncommunity health centers. He appealed to the central government
\nfor more medicine and health officials.<\/p>\n
Separately, Sikka Deputy Regent Yos Ansar Rera also complained
\nthat the refugees were in pressing need of more water and masks.
\n\"Most wells are covered in ash, so we need clean water from the
\ngovernment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
For the time being, the refugees are using handkerchiefs or
\nwet towels to cover their faces in order to avoid hazardous ash
\nintake, Yos was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/airport-on-flores-reopens-1447893297",
"image": ""
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