Indonesia grounded 209 flights affecting more than 22,000 passengers on Sunday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau drifted near Jakarta’s main international airport. The eruption, which began late Friday, sent ash plumes up to 50,000 feet into the atmosphere, prompting flight suspensions across regional and international routes.
Flight Suspensions and Regional Disruption at Jakarta Airport
A surge of volcanic activity from Mount Anak Krakatau forced authorities to suspend 209 flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday morning. The sudden operational pause left more than 22,000 passengers stranded as aviation officials scrambled to manage airspace safety in the region.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport posted on Instagram that it had suspended flight operations until 13:30 (0630 GMT) due to volcanic ash. The transport ministry reported that the initial suspension, which had been scheduled until 5.30am, was extended until 13:30 (0630 GMT). According to the transport ministry, the pause in operations mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, also other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.
The volcano had started erupting late on Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds across surrounding regions. Two more eruptions happened early on Sunday, authorities said.
Ash Plumes and Meteorological Agency Warnings
Ash was identified as high as 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) on the Java side of the volcano and a plume of up to 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) on the Sumatra side and some parts of Banten province in Java, the meteorological agency BMKG posted on its website.
Anak Krakatau is roughly halfway between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia’s vast island chain, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.
Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, issued public advisories urging caution. In the event of ashfall, people are advised to wear masks and eye protection, reduce outdoor activities, cover water sources and exercise caution when driving, as volcanic ash can reduce visibility, said spokesperson Berton Panjaitan, who added that the agency urges the public to remain calm while increasing vigilance.
urges the public to remain calm while increasing vigilance. In the event of ashfall, people are advised to wear masks and eye protection, reduce outdoor activities, cover water sources and exercise caution when driving, as volcanic ash can reduce visibility
Berton Panjaitan, spokesperson for Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB
Local Community Impacts and Health Precautions
The fallout extended far beyond airport tarmacs, directly disrupting daily life for coastal communities and students. According to local newspaper Kompas, several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye irritations from the ash, while some fishermen had cancelled fishing trips at sea similarly reporting sore eyes.
The health minister has urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory, eye, and skin risks.
Authorities have confirmed there is no tsunami warning linked to the recent activity of the volcano, which is in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. The disaster mitigation agency said on Saturday there was no imminent risk of tsunami from the volcano. Government officials and disaster agencies remain mindful of the volcano’s history, noting that a tsunami in 2018 caused by Anak Krakatau eruptions killed hundreds and injured hundreds more on Java and Sumatra.
A Century of Volcanic Evolution in the Sunda Strait
Anak Krakatau, which means child of Krakatau, emerged a century ago from the area once occupied by Krakatau, then known as Krakatoa. Krakatoa was destroyed in 1883, when its massive eruptions killed more than 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis.
