Flights suspended at Indonesia's main airport due to volcanic eruption

Indonesia's main international airport, located outside Jakarta, ceased operations on Sunday following ash emissions from the Anak Krakatoa volcano, situated over 150 kilometers away. This disruption affected thousands of passengers and caused significant inconvenience. The volcano erupted on Saturday, generating a lava fountain and audible booms detected up to 700 kilometers away.

On Sunday, two additional eruptions were recorded, prompting authorities to suspend airport operations at 01:30 am local time. The positive result of a paper test confirmed the presence of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area, leading to an extended closure until 09:30 am. This suspension was subsequently prolonged by four hours due to ongoing eruptive activity.

Over 22,000 passengers were impacted, with 209 flights disrupted, primarily to and from Singapore. Other affected international routes included Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur, while domestic flights to Bali were also cancelled. Anak Krakatoa, named after the Child of Krakatoa, lies in a strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra.

Ships navigating this area are advised to exercise caution due to potential navigation hazards caused by volcanic activity. The volcano has been intermittently active since emerging from the sea in the late 19th century, following the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa, which claimed an estimated 35,000 lives. As a Southeast Asian archipelago nation, Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region notorious for its high volcanic and seismic activity.