Soekarno-Hatta airport suspends operations after volcanic eruption

Mount Anak Krakatau, located between the islands of Java and Sumatra, experienced an eruption on Saturday, sending a fountain of lava and causing booming sounds audible up to 700 kilometers away. The Geology Agency reported these events. On Sunday, the transportation ministry halted operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport due to ash spewed from the volcano more than 150 kilometers away, impacting thousands of passengers.

Two additional eruptions were detected on Sunday, prompting authorities to suspend airport operations starting at 01:30 am (Saturday 18:30 GMT). The suspension was extended by four hours due to heightened eruptive activity. Over 22,000 passengers were affected, with 209 flights cancelled, particularly affecting routes to and from Singapore.

Other international routes impacted included Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, 16 domestic flights to Bali were cancelled. Anak Krakatau sits in a strait separating Java and Sumatra, and ships in the area are advised to increase vigilance for potential disruptions to navigation safety and are prohibited from approaching within a 3-kilometer radius of the volcano.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency urges the public to remain calm, wear masks, reduce outdoor activities, cover water sources, and exercise caution when driving due to potential ashfall. Schools cancelled activities on Saturday, and residents experienced eye irritation from the ash. Fishermen cancelled their trips due to the eruption.

The agency stated there was no immediate risk of a tsunami from the volcano, which has been sporadically active since emerging from the sea in the late 19th century following the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatau, one of history's deadliest and most destructive disasters, resulting in an estimated 35,000 fatalities.