Indonesia cancels flights at Jakarta airport as Anak Krakatau volcano erupts

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted on Sunday morning, leading to the suspension of flights at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The Indonesian Geological Agency reported the volcanic island, situated in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, had shown signs of activity the previous day and erupted for 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. on Sunday. Though there were no reported injuries or evacuation orders, the agency advised residents and visitors to maintain a 3-kilometer distance from the active crater.

The nearby town of Epworth, Zimbabwe, was mentioned in a photo from Nov. 14, 2024, where women carrying children were seen performing daily tasks. However, this has no direct connection to the volcanic activity in Indonesia.

Jakarta and Lampung province, on the southern tip of Sumatra island, experienced volcanic ash dispersal. The country's volcanology agency and the Australian-based Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre identified two ash clouds, with one reaching 20,000 feet and drifting northeast, impacting areas in Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and surrounding waters.

As a result, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport temporarily halted operations from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Passengers at the airport sought refunds and reclaimed luggage, while the airport's departure boards displayed an increasing number of canceled flights.