Haze affects Labuan Bajo and much of Flores

Labuan Bajo — Atmospheric haze affected Labuan Bajo and much of Flores on 29 and 30 September 2026, according to the Komodo Meteorological Station. Station chief Maria Patricia Christin Seran said the phenomenon was haze, not volcanic ash.

The station attributed the reduced visibility to a temperature inversion near the surface and in higher atmospheric layers. The inversion limited vertical air movement and kept water vapour, aerosols, dust and other particles close to the ground, Seran said.

The haze was reported across Labuan Bajo, in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, and much of Flores. Officials said the condition had not affected shipping by tourist vessels or flights at Komodo International Airport.

Why it matters to readers

Reduced visibility can affect how visitors assess travel conditions in Labuan Bajo and across Flores, while the official explanation distinguishes the event from volcanic ash. The Komodo Meteorological Station’s assessment also indicates that the reported haze was linked to atmospheric conditions rather than a volcanic eruption.

Seran cited upper-air observations from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) station in Maumere. Those observations identified temperature inversions from the surface to about 950 hPa and between 750 hPa and 720 hPa.

The inversion made the atmosphere more stable and reduced vertical mixing, allowing particles near the surface to remain trapped and making the air appear veiled, Seran said. Komodo International Airport spokesperson Marwa said there had been no impact on airport flights at the time of the report.

Sources

• detikBali — Indonesian news outlet
• tribunnews.com