RI readies 10 airports to restore flights after Anak Krakatau eruption

Seven Indonesian airports, including two serving the capital Jakarta, are still shut due to volcanic ash from eruptions at Mount Anak Krakatau, according to the transport minister. The ash has blanketed the city and surrounding areas since the volcano erupted late Friday, prompting closures for safety reasons. Lava from Anak Krakatau illuminated the night sky in a red glow, prompting residents to clean their homes and a nearby mosque.

The volcano is one of around 130 active ones in Indonesia, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone with frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Anak Krakatau, also known as "child of Krakatau," emerged a century ago from the site of the 1883 Krakatau volcano, which erupted with devastating consequences, causing over 36,000 fatalities and a series of tsunamis.

A 2018 eruption resulted in more than 400 deaths. Airports have been affected, with over 270,000 people impacted by flight delays, diversions, or cancellations totaling 2,300 flights. Jakarta's main airport, Soekarno-Hatta, will remain closed until 6 p.m. local time, along with six other airports. Reopening of another airport in South Sumatra is possible, but officials cannot predict when the closures will end due to changing weather conditions.

Passengers at Jakarta's main airport were frantic, checking flight statuses on information boards, some even sleeping on benches. Carlos Zabala, a 24-year-old traveller en route to Spain, expressed his frustration with the lack of clarity. Volcano expert Surono stated that windy and dry conditions were spreading the sulphur and silica-laden ash, potentially endangering plane engines.

The volcano monitoring agency reported that the most recent eruption occurred on Sunday at 8:23 p.m., with ash towers reaching heights of up to 20,000 feet on the Java side and 50,000 feet on the Sumatra side. Meteorological agency BMKG warned of a high probability of further eruptions in the coming periods, with ash reaching dangerous levels.

On Sunday, the disaster agency advised people to wear masks outdoors to avoid inhaling ash. Schools in Jakarta and Lampung have adopted remote learning to protect students from health risks.