Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early Sunday, sending volcanic ash across western Indonesia and leading to the cancellation of all flights at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and several other domestic airports. The eruption, which lasted 30 seconds, disrupted 516 flight movements, affecting approximately 22,800 passengers by mid-afternoon.
Ash Clouds and Travel Disruptions
The Indonesian Geological Agency reported that the volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, had shown signs of activity since Friday before the significant eruption occurred at 3:53 a.m. Sunday. Closed-circuit camera footage captured lava flares from the volcano. No casualties were reported, and no evacuation orders were issued, though authorities advised people to stay at least 2 miles from the active crater due to the hazard.
Volcanic ash spread over parts of Jakarta and the Lampung province on Sumatra's southern tip. AirNav Indonesia closed airspace around Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma airports in Jakarta, as well as Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung and four other airports. The closure at Soekarno-Hatta was initially ordered until at least 5:30 p.m. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with airlines, airport operators, air navigation services, and the meteorology agency, emphasizing that safety remains the top priority.
Cascading disruptions to flight schedules, aircraft rotations, fleet availability, and terminal capacity were anticipated as airlines worked to resume operations. The eruption also impacted services at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and Medan.
Continued Volcanic Activity
Satellite imagery identified two ash clouds. One plume rose to 20,000 feet (6,100 meters) and drifted northeast towards Jakarta and surrounding areas. A second cloud reached 50,000 feet (15,200 meters) and spread over parts of Banten, Lampung, and Bengkulu provinces, the southern Sunda Strait, and sections of the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra.
Lana Saria, head of Indonesia's Geological Agency, noted that Anak Krakatau's activity had intensified since July, with Sunday's eruption being the strongest during the current period of unrest. She explained that the repeated eruptions suggest a continuous supply of magma and volcanic gases but cautioned that officials cannot predict whether a larger eruption will occur. The agency continues to evaluate the volcano's development based on comprehensive monitoring data, not solely on eruption frequency or ash column height. The primary hazards identified include volcanic ash, high concentrations of gas, and the ejection of hot rocks and other materials near the crater.
Anak Krakatau, meaning "child of Krakatau," is situated in the vicinity of the famous Krakatau volcano, whose monumental 1883 eruption led to a period of global cooling. In 2018, an eruption at Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java. Researchers believe an underwater landslide, possibly caused by volcanic activity, led to a significant portion of Anak Krakatau's southwest slope collapsing and displacing a large volume of water, reducing the island's size to about a quarter of its original after that event.