Indonesia Highlights: Mount Merapi Alert Raised | Soldier Killed in Clash with Armed Group in Papua | Garuda Inaugurates Bali-HK Cargo Flight

KOMPAS.com – Residents near Mount Merapi volcano in Central Java are urged to remain vigilant as Indonesian authorities have raised the emergency alert to the second-highest level.

The spiritual guardian of the volcano, who is responsible for ritual activity and works closely with the relevant government agencies to monitor the volcanic activity, said that the alert status has changed quickly, calling the villagers to follow any instructions from the government should the situation worses.

Meanwhile, in Papua in eastern Indonesia, another attack by an armed criminal group occurred on Friday, killing a military member who was on duty in the Intan Jaya regency. The government has stepped up its security in the area as the group has been allegedly attacking not only the military personnel but also civilians.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, airline companies including national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia have extended their services to boost revenues. Garuda Indonesia began its first special cargo flight from Bali to Hong Kong on November 7.