Widespread flight disruptions across Indonesia
Indonesia has suspended operations at its main international airport, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta, after ash from Mount Anak Krakatoa was detected in the surrounding airspace. The suspension, initiated on Sunday morning, was extended multiple times due to what authorities described as "increased eruptive activity." Airport operators confirmed the extensions on social media, with operations halted until at least 8:59 a.m. Monday local time, according to reports.
More than 22,000 passengers were affected by the suspension, with 209 flights impacted, particularly routes to and from Singapore, as reported by Indonesia's transport ministry. Other affected international routes included Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. At least 16 domestic flights to and from Bali were also cancelled, according to local airport authorities.
Later reports indicated that about 170,000 passengers were stranded as the closures extended to eight airports, including two serving Jakarta. The transport ministry stated that 1,558 flights had been delayed across the affected airports, with more than 900 of those to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Volcanic activity and response
Mount Anak Krakatoa, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, began erupting on Saturday, producing a fountain of lava and booming sounds that could be heard up to 700 kilometres away, according to Indonesia's geology agency. The volcano had started erupting late Friday night, with continuous seismic activity and lava fountains reported. Two more eruptions were recorded on Sunday, the volcanology agency warned.
Ash from the volcano was detected in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta, prompting the initial suspension. The transport ministry extended the closure after a paper test showed "positive results indicating the spread of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area."
The volcanic ash reached heights of up to 6,000 metres on the Java side and 15,000 metres on the Sumatra side, according to the meteorological agency BMKG.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said that several airports in cities including Semarang and Surabaya had been prepared as alternative landing sites. He noted that the timing of the reopening was uncertain due to dynamic weather conditions.
Impact on airlines and passengers
The disruptions left some passengers scrambling to find alternative flights. Henny Yensan, a 44-year-old businesswoman, told AFP that "everybody was disappointed" but added, "No one flew into a rage, because after all, this is due to natural disaster." She had to reschedule her flight to Tuesday.
Samuel Guiberteau, a Danone executive on a business trip to Lombok, said by phone that "nothing is certain for the moment" as he searched for alternative flights back to the capital. He added that a Citilink flight he had found was also cancelled.
Qantas reported "disruptions to a number of services, including cancellations to and from Jakarta today." The airline said, "Safety remains our highest priority. We have contacted affected customers and are providing assistance. Services will resume when conditions allow." Singapore Airlines also cancelled Jakarta flights for the remainder of Sunday, according to reports.
Safety measures and warnings
The geology agency head, Lana Saria, said that "seismic activity indicates the movement or release of volcanic fluids within the volcanic system." She cautioned, "However, the timing, magnitude, and nature of the next eruption cannot be precisely predicted," and warned against approaching the volcano, as ejected materials could endanger those within the exclusion zone.
The volcano monitoring agency warned on Monday that "the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high."
Authorities have confirmed there is no tsunami warning linked to the recent activity. However, ships passing through the strait were asked to be vigilant for navigation safety, with vessels prohibited from approaching within a three-kilometre radius of the volcano, according to local port authorities.
Indonesia's disaster agency called for people to wear masks while travelling outdoors to avoid breathing in ash. The health minister urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory, eye, and skin risks.
Background on Anak Krakatoa
Anak Krakatoa, which means "Child of Krakatoa," has been sporadically active since it emerged from the sea at the beginning of the last century in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa. That eruption was one of the deadliest and most destructive in history, with an estimated 35,000 people killed.
In 2018, a tsunami caused by a collapse of parts of Anak Krakatoa killed 429 people and left thousands displaced. Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. The country's geology agency noted that the current eruption is unlikely to trigger a tsunami.