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olcanic activity at Mount Barujari, a sub-volcano of Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), started to decrease on Sunday but Lombok International Airport (BIL) remained closed for security reasons.

Head of Rinjani Volcano Observation Post, Mutaharlin, said the activity of the volcano on Sunday was calmer than on previous days.

'€œBut it still fluctuates,'€ Mutaharlin told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said Mt. Barujari was still erupting, spewing volcanic material and smoke 1,400 meters into the air, high above the crater of the volcano. Recently eruptions reached 2,500 meters above the crater.

He said that earthquakes in the area had also decreased with maximum amplitude down to 36 millimeters from a recent high of 56 millimeters.

Mutaharlin added that the alert status of Mt. Barujari was unchanged at Level 3 of four possible levels, with Level 4 representing the greatest danger.

Separately, head of NTB Transportation Communication and Information Agency, Agung Hartono, said that as of Sunday, BIL in Pujut district, Central Lombok, was still closed for all flights for security reasons and expected to resume operations on Monday.

Based on satellite data and field conditions, Agung said, smoke and volcanic ash from Barujari had the potential to endanger aircraft.

'€œThat'€™s why BIL is closed [awaiting] further recommendation from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency [BMKG] regarding weather conditions and [wind] direction,'€ Agung said, Sunday.

He called on airplane users to be understanding and switch to alternative transportation modes such as speed boats from Senggigi and Lembar seaports in West Lombok regency to cross to Bali.

Agung said that apart from BIL in Central Lombok, Selaparang Airport in Mataram, used for flight training, was also closed.