No stage for K-pop group Mamamoo in Jakarta this Sept 19 as Anak Krakatau steals the spotlight

SEOUL, September 14 — The Indonesian volcanic eruption has led South Korean girl group Mamamoo to cancel their September 19 Jakarta concert at NICE PIK 2, according to their agency RBW. The group cited "unpredictable conditions caused by recent volcanic activity and strengthened local safety and security measures" as the reason for the cancellation, stating that the well-being of the artists and audience members is their top priority.

Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait, began an eruption on September 5, generating ash plumes up to 15,000 meters high and leading to the closure of eight airports in western Indonesia. This volcanic activity has also affected four other volcanoes in the country, stranding over 270,000 passengers and impacting around 340,000 travelers, with more than 2,900 flights delayed, cancelled, or diverted.

Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was particularly affected, temporarily shutting down before reopening on September 9. Indonesia's geology agency has warned that Anak Krakatau remains at Level III, or "Alert," on its four-tier scale, indicating a continued risk of further eruptions. Mamamoo is not the only South Korean act to face last-minute cancellation in Jakarta; former Big Bang member T.O.P also announced the cancellation of his "Pre-Studio" tour performance in the city on the same date.