Mount Anak Krakatau eruption disrupts 209 flights at Jakarta airport

An eruption at Mount Anak Krakatau has led to the suspension of 209 flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, causing disruption to both domestic and international services. The volcanic ash detected at altitudes up to 20,000 feet on the Java side has prompted the closure of flights until 9.30am local time on Sunday, extending an earlier suspension scheduled until 5.30am.

Indonesia’s Transport Ministry reported the extensive flight disruption, which followed activity beginning late on Friday. The meteorological agency BMKG noted that a plume of volcanic ash reached 50,000 feet towards Sumatra and parts of Banten province. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency urged the public to remain calm while taking precautions such as wearing masks and eye protection, reducing outdoor activities, and exercising caution while driving due to the potential for reduced visibility.

Schools and fishermen have also been affected, with schools cancelling activities and fishermen calling off fishing trips due to eye irritation from the ash. Despite the eruption’s current status not posing an imminent tsunami risk, Mount Anak Krakatau’s history of deadly eruptions, including a 2018 event that caused a tsunami killing hundreds, underscores the volcano’s potential for destructive power.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Vibes's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.