An eruption at the Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia on Sunday led to the suspension of all flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and disruption of other domestic airports due to the spread of volcanic ash across western Indonesia.
Situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands, the volcanic island had been showing signs of activity since Friday. The eruption occurred twice on Sunday morning, lasting 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. local time and 16 seconds later, as reported by Indonesia’s Geological Agency. Lava flares were visible from the volcano on closed-circuit camera footage.
Although no casualties were reported, and no evacuation order was issued, authorities advised residents and visitors to remain at least three kilometers away from the active crater. The volcanic ash affected areas in Jakarta and Lampung province in southern Sumatra, according to Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.
Due to the volcanic ash, AirNav Indonesia closed airspace around several airports, including Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, as well as six other airports, such as Radin Inten II in Lampung.
The closure of eight airports impacted approximately 170,000 passengers from 1,558 canceled flights by Sunday evening, with Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport alone accounting for 963 canceled flights. All eight airports were mandated to remain closed until 8:59 a.m. on Monday.
Passengers expressed their inconvenience, with one Spanish tourist, Diego Urdiales, and an Indonesian passenger, Michele Gouw, acknowledging the situation as a natural disaster that required acceptance and patience.
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation assured close monitoring of the eruption’s impact on air travel, emphasizing safety as the top priority in operational decisions. The eruption disruptions also affected services at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and Medan.
The volcano continues to exhibit activity, with two ash clouds identified by Indonesia’s volcanology agency and the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Australia. The volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau has intensified since July, with the recent eruption being the strongest during that period.
Officials highlighted potential hazards including volcanic ash, gas concentrations, and ejection of hot rocks around the crater, as they closely monitor the volcano’s development based on various data points. Anak Krakatau, translated as “child of Krakatau,” is linked to the famous Krakatau volcano, known for its significant 1883 eruption that caused global cooling.
In 2018, an eruption of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that resulted in the loss of at least 430 lives in Sumatra and Java. The event was believed to have been caused by volcanic activity leading to an underwater landslide, impacting the island’s size significantly.