Anak Krakatau eruption halts hundreds of Jakarta flights
Volcanic ash from Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau has forced the temporary suspension of operations at Jakarta’s main airport, disrupting more than 200 flights and prompting public-health and maritime precautions.
Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport suspended flights early on Sunday, 6 September, after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in the airport area. The shutdown was extended until at least 09:30 local time, according to the country’s transport authorities.
Reuters reported that 209 flights were affected, including international services. The Associated Press said approximately 22,800 passengers faced disruption.
Ash creates aviation risk
The volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, had been erupting since late Friday. Indonesia’s meteorological agency reported ash at up to 20,000 feet on the Java side, with a plume reaching as high as 50,000 feet over the Sumatra side and parts of Banten province.
Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines, reduce visibility and contaminate runways, making precautionary closures essential even when conditions at ground level appear manageable. Passengers were advised to confirm schedules directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The eruption also disrupted some school and fishing activities. Residents in affected areas were advised to remain indoors where possible, use masks and eye protection, and avoid exposure to falling ash.
No casualties or evacuation order reported
Indonesia’s geological authorities advised people to remain at least three kilometres from the active crater. No casualties or general evacuation order had been reported at the time of publication, and the national disaster agency said there was no immediate tsunami threat.
Those assessments could change if the eruption intensifies or wind conditions shift. The duration of the airport disruption remains uncertain and will depend on ash concentration, runway inspections and updated aviation forecasts.
Anak Krakatau emerged from the remains of the historic Krakatau volcano. Its 2018 collapse generated a tsunami that killed hundreds of people along nearby coastlines, making continued official monitoring particularly important.
Reporting and verification: Indonesian transport, meteorological, geological and disaster-management authorities cited through Reuters and the Associated Press, linked to the principal primary and independent reports.
