8 Indonesian airports shut due to volcanic ash

Jakarta, Indonesia - Eight Indonesian airports, including two serving the capital, remain closed as of Monday morning due to volcanic ash from eruptions at Anak Krakatau, according to the transport minister. The ash blanket from the volcano, situated halfway between Java and Sumatra islands, has affected Jakarta and surrounding areas since its late Friday eruption.

The closure of these airports is a precautionary measure to ensure safety, as 170,000 people have been impacted by flight cancellations. The main airport in Jakarta will stay shut until 6pm local time, with no clear indication of when it will reopen due to changing weather conditions. The transport minister stated that the seven other affected airports, including those serving nearby provinces of Lampung and West Java, would remain closed until at least 8.59am.

The volcano monitoring agency's website reported that the most recent eruption of Anak Krakatau occurred on Sunday at 8.23pm. Authorities warned that the likelihood of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high, with ash levels reaching up to 20,000 feet (6,000m) on the Java side and 50,000 feet (15,000m) on the Sumatra side.

The disaster agency advised people to wear masks while traveling outdoors to avoid inhaling the ash. In response to health risks, schools in Jakarta and Lampung opted for remote learning. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Anak Krakatau, meaning "child of Krakatau," emerged from the site of the older Krakatau volcano, which itself erupted catastrophically in 1883, claiming over 36,000 lives in tsunamis.