Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, serving Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, has halted flight operations following an escalation in volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau. The airport suspended all flights until at least 1:30pm local time on Sunday after detecting volcanic ash over the metropolitan area, despite the volcano being located more than 150 kilometers away.
The eruption, which intensified late Friday, has proven remarkably powerful, with lava fountains and loud explosions audible from distances up to 700 kilometers away. Ash columns have reached heights of 6,000 meters on the Java side of the volcano and up to 15,000 meters toward Sumatra and Banten province. Officials recorded two additional eruptions on Sunday, prompting authorities to continue monitoring conditions closely.
The flight disruptions have already impacted numerous airlines, with an earlier suspension affecting 33 flights, including 16 international cancellations. Officials prioritized safety over schedule adherence, conducting testing to confirm volcanic ash presence at the facility. Singapore Airlines was among carriers forced to cancel and delay services. While no tsunami threat has been identified, volcanic ash poses significant risks to aircraft engines and visibility, making continued caution essential.
This marks another dangerous event for the volcano, which emerged from the sea in the 1920s following the catastrophic 1883 Krakatoa eruption, one of history’s deadliest volcanic disasters. A 2018 eruption killed over 400 people along Java and Sumatra’s coasts.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
About the Author
