Malaysians Endure 33-Hour Ferry Ride To Surabaya After Multiple Flight Cancellations
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia erupted multiple times, disrupting all air travel.
By Aleya Natasha Mohd Ali — 14 Nov 2024, 01:09 PM
A group of Malaysians who went on a five-day vacation in Labuan Bajo got stranded on the island after multiple eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia
OhBulan! reported that the group, which included Hafizi Idrus, the Head of Social Media under the Malay Network at REV Media Group, and his friends, arrived in Labuan Bajo on 5 November.
The group comprised ten adults and three children, and was scheduled to return to Malaysia last Saturday, 9 November.
"Initially, our flight back to Malaysia on 9 November was postponed from 2pm to 4pm. However, it was delayed again from 4pm to 5pm. We were puzzled when it was eventually cancelled," Hafizi informed OhBulan!.
He said the group later discovered that Mount Lewotobi, located in East Nusa Tenggara province, had erupted. Labuan Bajo, situated approximately 533km from the volcano, is in the same province.
"The volcanic ash was too thick, making it too dangerous for flights to proceed."
The group rescheduled their return for 12 November, only for it to be cancelled again due to another eruption of Mount Lewotobi
"The return flight scheduled for 14 November was fully booked, and the earliest available flight after that was on 16 November," informed Hafizi.
The group feared being stranded indefinitely, as the volcano remained active and could potentially keep them there for up to a month.
Hafizi also noted that his own expenses for food and other essentials had reached RM1,000. His friends, who were travelling with spouses and children, incurred costs exceeding RM10,000 for accommodation and other necessities.
Faced with limited options, the group followed a local's advice and took a 33-hour ferry ride to Surabaya
"The best course of action was to take a ferry to Surabaya, which would take about 31 to 33 hours. From there, we hoped to find a flight back to Malaysia.
"If we had stayed, there would be no hope of returning anytime soon," Hafizi said.
The ferry ride from Labuan Bajo to Surabaya cost RM131 per person.
"For those planning trips to areas prone to natural disasters, I recommend getting insurance that covers such events. Without it, you’ll have to bear all the expenses if you get stranded," Hafizi advised future travellers.
