Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early Sunday, leading to the temporary suspension of all flights at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as volcanic ash spread across western Indonesia.
The eruption, which lasted 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. local time, prompted airport authorities to suspend flight operations between 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Passengers at the nation's busiest airport sought refunds and retrieved baggage as departure boards showed a growing list of cancellations.
Indonesia's Geological Agency reported that the volcano, situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands, had shown signs of increased activity on Saturday. The agency issued a warning for residents and visitors to remain at least 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from the active crater, though no casualties or evacuation orders were reported as the nearest settlement is over 16 kilometers away.
Volcanic ash plumes were detected by satellite imagery, with one cloud rising to an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,100 meters) drifting northeast towards Jakarta and surrounding areas, including Banten province and nearby waters. A second, more significant plume reached 50,000 feet (15,200 meters) and moved westward and northwestward, affecting Banten, Lampung, and Bengkulu provinces, as well as the southern Sunda Strait and parts of the Indian Ocean.
Anak Krakatau, meaning "Child of Krakatoa," is a volcanic island that emerged in 1927 following the cataclysmic eruption of the Krakatoa volcano. The 2018 collapse of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people along the coasts of Sumatra and Java.