Securely Travel Brief – 17 May 2018

Today’s Securely Travel brief is culled from the travel warnings and travel alerts found via news media, government and social networks.

SUMMARY:

Indonesia - 12 Countries issue travel advisories following terrorist bombings
Nigeria - 87 passengers kidnapped in Kaduna state
United States - Volcano activity in Hawaii, alert level remains RED

Indonesia - 12 countries issue travel advisories following terrorist bombings

Another attack took place in Indonesia on 16 May in Sumatra, when four swordsman attacked and killed a police officer. The Jakarta Post reports 12 countries issued travel advisories for travel to Indonesia following a series of terrorist attacks in Surabaya and Sidoarjo in East Java. Meanwhile the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) has requested foreign countries not to issue travel warning against Indonesia, as it will hurt Indonesia tourism, noting that the attacks were limited to Jakarta and Surabaya. Securely Travel’s position remains the same, despite the ASITA request otherwise, if you are traveling to Indonesia at this time remain highly alert, avoid large crowds, and maintain a low profile. We note that three churches in Surabaya and a police station were the locales targeted by the terrorists. In the past, attacks have occurred in tourist heavy locations, such as Bali and high-end tourist hotels in Jakarata (Marriott and Four Seasons in 2009).

Eleven Dead and 41 Wounded in Surabaya Terror Attacks, Active Bombs Found https://t.co/inPdC2Ecrd pic.twitter.com/nlpZg2NPGi

— The Jakarta Globe (@thejakartaglobe) May 13, 2018

Nigeria - 87 passengers kidnapped in Kaduna state

Travelers to Nigeria should avoid the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highways where 87 passengers were recently kidnapped. The attackers, took hostages from 15 separate vehicles (trucks, buses, cars) which were intercepted. In addition, some passengers traveling this route were killed.

Armed bandits kidnap 87 passengers in Birnin-Gwari https://t.co/yhmsGUKC0g via @todayng pic.twitter.com/f8mTnSCtQG

— Nigeria Newsdesk (@NigeriaNewsdesk) May 16, 2018

United States - Hawaii - The Kilauea Volcano activity decreased, Alert Level remains RED.

According to the USGS, the Kilauea Volcano ash emission has decreased, though periods of ash plumes, rising as high as 4,000 feet do occur. The prevalent winds are northward, and ash fall may occur within the Volcanoes National Park. Communities downwind. Three earthquakes occurred near the summit which damaged facilities within the National Park and cracked Highway 11 near the entrance to the park. The geologists note that the eruption of 1924 was preceded by hundreds of small earthquakes near the summit as the magma drained from the caldera, and that a steam eruption from Kilauea is anticipated.

Update - 0500 HST - Kilauea has erupted with significant ash flume (30,000 feet) … wind direction is to the SouthEast … residents and visitors in that direction should shelter in place.

#BREAKING: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has erupted and the Civil Defense Agency has issued a shelter in place due to a spreading ash plumehttps://t.co/bB73AUSy9w

— WHSVnews (@WHSVnews) May 17, 2018

Screen shot of the ash plume at the Kīlauea Volcano summit, taken from a Mauna Loa webcam. https://t.co/tdlzJYfspA pic.twitter.com/O3JjN74jNy

— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 17, 2018