Jakarta airport suspends flights due to Mount Anak Krakatau ash; SIA among affected airlines

Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport suspended flight operations on Sunday, Sep 6, due to volcanic ash from the ongoing eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. The suspension, initially set to last until 5.30am, was extended to 1.30pm local time, affecting 209 flights, including several international ones. Singapore Airlines (SIA) cancelled two flights to and from Jakarta on Saturday and rescheduled two others, with additional delays reported.

Passengers are advised to check SIA's flight status page for updates. Mount Anak Krakatau has been erupting since Friday, with ash detected at airports as high as 6,000 meters on the Java side and up to 15,000 meters on the Sumatra side. The meteorological agency BMKG reported plumes of ash up to 15,000 meters. Anak Krakatau is located between Java and Sumatra, in Indonesia's 'Ring of Fire' region.

The disaster mitigation agency BNPB urges the public to remain calm and take precautions, such as wearing masks and reducing outdoor activities. Schools cancelled activities on Saturday due to ashfall, causing eye irritation. Fishermen also cancelled their trips. No tsunami risk was reported, but Anak Krakatau, which emerged from the site of the 1883 Krakatoa eruption, caused hundreds of deaths in 2018.