The Australian government has issued a travel alert for Indonesia following an explosion at a police station in West Java and several eruptions at Mount Semeru, East Java.
According to the government website smartraveller.com.au Indonesia has issued the highest level of warnings following Mount Semeru erupting on 4 December.
Smartraveller recommends avoiding the area and checking with your travel provider or nearest Indonesian consulate or embassy before you travel.
The mountain threw a plume of volcanic ash 15km into the sky. Almost 2000 residents have been evacuated from the area. People have been warned to keep at least eight kilometres away as avalanches of lava have poured from the mountain.
Read: How to avoid travel disasters
Mount Semeru last erupted in 2021, killing at least 57 people and leaving the area filled with mud and ash.
It follows a series of seismic activities on the island of Java. An earthquake in West Java last month killed an estimated 334 people and injured 7729.
As for the police station explosion, the government recommends avoiding the area, which is Astana Anyar District, Bandung, West Java. Tourists are cautioned to be alert to possible threats and follow the advice of local authorities.
The incident is being treated as a suicide bombing. The attacker and one police officer were killed in the explosion, while 11 were injured, including three police officers.
The attacker had been previously jailed on terrorism offenses.
EU to no longer enforce airplane mode
Air travellers in Europe will soon no longer be forced to put their phones on airplane mode.
The European Commission has ruled that airlines can provide 5G on flights, and have until June 2023 to do so.
According to Travel Weekly using 5G on flights was banned due to lack of knowledge of how it could impact the plane. There have been fears the frequency could interfere with flight control systems.
However, UK Flight Safety Committee chief executive Dai Whittingham said these concerns were not an issue in the EU and UK.
Read: Airplane mode is a vital part of flying safety
“We have a different set of frequencies for 5G, and there are lower power settings than those that have been allowed in the US,” Mr Whittingham said.
“The travelling public wants 5G, the regulators will open up that possibility, but there will be steps that will be taken to ensure that whatever they do is safe.”
The Australian government claims there was no sign of interference of 5G in Australian aviation.
Despite the move by the EU to drop airplane mode requirements, there has been no such action yet in Australia.
Have you had to change your plans at the last minute due to natural disasters? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
