Indonesian Govt Deploys Sea Transportation in Response to Mount Lewotobi Eruption

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Transportation Ministry ensures the readiness of sea transportation as an emergency alternative for tourists and residents affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, following the disruption of air access due to volcanic activity.

The Director General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, Muhammad Masyhud, said that his staff has coordinated with the Forum for Coordinating Regional Leaders (Forkopimda) to ensure the safety and smooth mobilization using sea transportation.

"Our colleagues there have prepared and communicated with Forkopimda and are ready for it," Masyhud said during a meeting with the media in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

This step is taken to respond to the needs of tourists who cannot continue their journey by air, utilizing the existing internal sea fleet.

"There are tourists who cannot travel by air, and we are ready to help through sea transportation," he said.

The Ministry of Transportation also continues to monitor the situation and is ready to provide additional support if needed, to ensure the continuity of transportation during the emergency period. "Currently, we are only using our internal fleet as preparation," Masyhud said.

Prior to this, the Head of Airport Authority Region IV, Cecep Kurniawan, said that as a result of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi, three airports had their operations closed.

These are Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere until June 19, 2025 at 06.00 WITA (Indonesia Central Time), Soa in Bajawa until June 18, 2025 at 17.00 WITA, and Haji Hasan Aroeboesman in Ende until June 19, 2025 at 07.00 WITA.

Cecep added that a total of 26 flight routes were affected, including 12 international and 14 domestic flights. More than 14,000 passengers were impacted.

"There are several airport locations with the largest number of affected passengers, namely Denpasar with 10,560 passengers, Labuan Bajo with 2,166 passengers, Lombok with 772 passengers, and Maumere with 451 passengers," Cecep said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Other affected airports include Kupang, Bajawa, Ende, Sabu, and several connectivity routes in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and Bali.

"Coordination has been carried out to ensure redirection, refund, and rescheduling for affected passengers," added Cecep.

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