JAKARTA, Indonesia — A powerful eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau forced authorities to temporarily suspend flight operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, disrupting hundreds of flights as volcanic ash spread across parts of Indonesia on Sunday, September 6.
Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said the suspension ultimately affected 209 flights, including international services, after volcanic ash from the ongoing eruption was detected near the country’s busiest airport.
Flight operations were initially halted for several hours and later extended until 9:30 a.m. local time, as authorities prioritized aviation safety amid concerns over ash in the airspace.
Ash clouds soar as Anak Krakatau continues erupting
The latest disruption came after Anak Krakatau began a renewed period of intense activity late Friday, with authorities monitoring massive ash plumes spreading in different directions.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, detected volcanic ash reaching approximately 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) on the Java side of the volcano, while another plume reportedly climbed as high as 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) toward Sumatra and parts of Banten province.
The ash spread disrupted more than just aviation.
Reuters reported that some school activities and fishing operations were also halted, while residents in affected areas were advised to remain vigilant and limit exposure to falling ash.
Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, urged residents to wear masks and eye protection during ashfall, reduce outdoor activities and exercise extra caution while driving because volcanic ash can significantly reduce visibility.
From normal operations to a full flight suspension
The situation escalated rapidly.
On Saturday, Indonesian authorities initially said flight operations at Soekarno-Hatta remained normal despite Anak Krakatau’s eruption, with monitoring at the airport not immediately detecting volcanic ash.
But conditions changed overnight.
ANTARA reported that authorities temporarily closed the airport after a volcanic ash paper test conducted early Sunday showed indications of ash contamination. The closure was initially scheduled from 1:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., before flight disruptions expanded as authorities continued monitoring conditions.
The contrasting flight-impact figures reported by various outlets appear to reflect different stages of the disruption. Early official monitoring cited 33 affected flights, while Reuters later reported the broader impact had reached 209 flights after the suspension was extended.
No tsunami warning, but authorities remain on alert
Despite the dramatic eruption and widespread ash, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said there was no imminent tsunami threat from the latest volcanic activity.
Anak Krakatau — or “Child of Krakatoa” — sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, one of the world’s most volcanically active regions along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The volcano is especially closely watched because its predecessor’s activity has produced catastrophic disasters in the past. Anak Krakatau’s collapse and eruption in December 2018 triggered a deadly tsunami, making renewed major activity a source of concern for Indonesian authorities and nearby communities.
For travelers, the eruption serves as another reminder of how quickly volcanic activity can disrupt air travel across Southeast Asia, particularly when ash enters major aviation corridors.
What happens next?
Authorities are continuing to monitor the movement of volcanic ash and Anak Krakatau’s eruptive activity.
The key question now is whether the ash cloud will clear quickly enough to allow Jakarta’s airport to resume normal operations — or whether continued eruptions could trigger further cancellations and disruptions across Indonesia’s busy domestic and international aviation network.
For now, the volcano is still active — and hundreds of travelers have already felt its impact.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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