Indonesia has kept several airports closed and transitioned schools to remote learning as the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcano in the Sunda Strait, begins to subside. The continuous 25-hour eruption that generated a lava fountain and a sound heard hundreds of miles away concluded Sunday, according to Indonesia's Geological Agency. However, the volcano remains active with moderate, intermittent eruptions, dark ash emissions, and minor seismic activity.
AirNav Indonesia reported the presence of volcanic ash in the airspace surrounding Jakarta and other cities, leading to the closure of eight airports until 6 p.m. Monday. These closures impact international airports in Jakarta, Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma, along with Husein Sastranegara in West Java and Radin Inten in Lampung on Sumatra's southern tip. The disruption has affected approximately 2,300 flights and 268,539 passengers at four airports operated by InJourney Airports.
Beyond air travel, the government has authorized schools in ash-affected areas, including Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and Lampung provinces, to temporarily switch to online learning. This measure aims to limit students' exposure to volcanic ash.
Officials warn that the possibility of additional eruptions in the coming days remains high. The primary hazards identified include volcanic bombs, heavy ashfall, and potential lava flows if eruptive activity intensifies. Anak Krakatau, which means "child of Krakatau" in Indonesian, is situated between Java and Sumatra islands and is the offspring of the volcano responsible for the devastating 1883 eruption that contributed to global cooling.
Anak Krakatau's previous eruption in 2018 triggered a tsunami that resulted in over 430 fatalities in Sumatra and Java. Researchers suggest that volcanic activity at that time led to an underwater landslide, causing a significant portion of the volcano's southwest slope to collapse and displace a large volume of water.
Indonesia, located along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," experiences frequent volcanic activity due to its position within a zone of high seismic and volcanic activity. The country hosts more than 120 active volcanoes.