Jakarta airport, four others reopen after Anak Krakatau ash crisis

Jakarta's main airport and four others in Indonesia have resumed flight operations early Tuesday after a week-long closure due to volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau eruption, according to the Transport Ministry. The ministry announced the reopening via Instagram, stating that the capital city's airport and four nearby hubs are now operating normally.

The volcanic eruption, which occurred on Saturday, expelled lava and a cloud of volcanic ash, prompting the closure of eight airports. This disruption affected nearly 3,000 flights and stranded over 340,000 passengers. The Transport Ministry had previously extended the closure multiple times in an attempt to ensure air safety. The four other airports that have reopened include Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Hussein Sastranegara in Bandung, and another small airport in south Sumatra.

However, two of the original eight airports remain closed. More than 240 domestic and international flights were either canceled or delayed on Monday due to the volcanic ash, with Soekarno-Hatta airport reporting that nearly 30,000 passengers were affected. Anak Krakatau, located in a strait between Java and Sumatra, has been intermittently active since emerging from the sea in the early 20th century, following the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatau. The 2018 tsunami triggered by a collapse of the volcano killed 429 people and displaced thousands.