1st LD: Indonesia shuts down airport, issues warning to planes amid volcano eruption

Indonesia closed an airport in Ternate of North Maluku province on Friday and warned planes to avoid the routes around the erupting volcano, an official said.

Mount Gamalama in North Maluku province of Indonesia erupted on Thursday night.

J.A. Barata, spokesman of the Indonesian transport ministry, said that the Sultan Babullah airport was closed on Friday morning. "Sultan Babullah airport is temporarily closed from 09:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. local time, and the warning to planes is also issued at 09:00 a.m. local time and will be in place until 12:00 a.m.," he told Xinhua by phone.

The measures will be reviewed after they expire, said Barata. Endi