Anak Krakatau Volcano Eruption Disrupts 209 Flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport
The eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano on Sunday morning has led to the temporary cancellation of flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, from 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM. The airport closure affected approximately 209 flights and around 22,800 passengers. Additionally, flights bound for Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur also experienced disruptions. There have been no reports of human casualties from the eruption, but volcanic ash has spread over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and areas of Lampung in Sumatra. (September 7, Jakarta, RASAS/AP)
The Indonesian vulcanology and geological agency reported that Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait, erupted at 3:53 AM for about 30 seconds. Monitoring cameras captured lava flames emerging simultaneously with the explosion. Although no casualties have been reported so far, authorities have not ordered evacuations. However, local residents and tourists have been advised to maintain a minimum distance of three kilometers from the active volcanic crater.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport announced the temporary suspension of flight operations between 5:30 AM and 9:30 AM on Sunday morning. This led to flight cancellations and delays, contributing to increased passenger congestion at the airport. According to officials, around 209 flights and 22,800 passengers were affected. The most impacted routes include busy domestic flights to Makassar in South Sulawesi and international flights to Singapore. There were also cancellations, delays, and schedule changes affecting flights to Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Indonesia stated that it is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the airport, airlines, air navigation services, and meteorological agencies. Around 170 aircraft remained parked overnight on the apron due to the suspension. Civil Aviation Director-General Lukman F. Lais emphasized that passenger safety remains the top priority in all operational decisions. Airlines are attempting to resume services, but additional delays or schedule adjustments may occur. Authorities urge passengers to check the latest flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport and to avoid traveling to the airport unless necessary.
Indonesia’s volcanic agency and Australia’s Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center identified two ash clouds in satellite images. One ash cloud moved northeast, reaching approximately 20,000 feet (6,100 meters), which has affected parts of Jakarta, Banten, and West Java. The other ash cloud rose to about 50,000 feet (15,200 meters) and spread westward and northwestward, impacting Banten, Lampung, Bengkulu provinces, southern Sunda Strait, and the western Indian Ocean region of Sumatra. Anak Krakatau means ‘Child of Krakatau’ and is a volcanic island formed after the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption. In 2018, an eruption at Anak Krakatau triggered a landslide underwater that caused a tsunami, resulting in at least 430 deaths in Java and Sumatra. Scientists explained that a large portion of the volcano’s southwest flank collapsed into the sea, displacing massive volumes of water. Currently, Anak Krakatau remains on the second-highest alert level in the four-tier warning system. Experts note that continued eruption activity has reduced the volcano island to about one-quarter of its original size.