Indonesia's main airport suspends operations after volcanic eruption

Jakarta: Indonesia's main international airport outside the capital city suspended operations on Sunday due to volcanic ash ejected from the Anak Krakatoa volcano, located more than 150 kilometers away. The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatoa on Saturday generated a lava fountain and loud noises audible up to 700 kilometers (435 miles) away, according to the geology agency.

Two additional eruptions were reported on Sunday, raising concerns among authorities. Ash from the volcano was detected in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, leading to the suspension of operations starting at 1:30 am Sunday (Saturday 18:30 GMT). The transport ministry later extended the closure until 9:30 am (02:30 GMT) on Sunday, citing positive results from a paper test indicating the presence of volcanic ash in the vicinity of the airport.

The suspension affected over 22,000 passengers and 209 flights, primarily to and from Singapore. Other international routes impacted included Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. Anak Krakatoa, also known as the Child of Krakatoa, sits in a strait separating the islands of Java and Sumatra. It has been intermittently active since emerging from the sea at the beginning of the last century, following the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa, which claimed an estimated 35,000 lives.

As a Southeast Asian archipelago nation situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia experiences high volcanic and seismic activity due to the collision of continental plates.