More than 150,000 passengers have been left stranded after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau forced Indonesian authorities to shut down operations at six airports, disrupting hundreds of domestic and international flights. The volcano began erupting late Friday night, sending continuous lava fountains into the air and triggering persistent seismic activity, with loud booming sounds heard across surrounding areas. Two further eruptions were recorded early on Sunday, authorities confirmed.
Airport Closures and Flight Disruptions
Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport became the first to close on Sunday morning after ash was detected in nearby airspace. According to the BBC, Indonesia's transport minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, said the decision to extend closures to more airports followed tests showing that volcanic ash had drifted towards West Java. By that point, 467 flights had already been affected, including routes to Singapore, Sydney, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur.
The transport ministry said the disruptions fell most heavily on flights connecting Indonesia to Singapore, though other international services to Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur were also hit. Purwagandhi called on airlines to explore diversion options and to speed up ticket refunds for passengers whose flights were cancelled. He also urged carriers to give timely updates to travellers with upcoming bookings, to prevent crowding at airport terminals.
Ash Column Reaches 50,000 Feet
Indonesia's meteorological agency, BMKG, reported that ash climbed to about 20,000 feet on the Java side east of the volcano, and reached as high as 50,000 feet on the Sumatra side to the west. The ash cloud has spread across Java and Sumatra, affecting air quality and visibility in several regions.
Health Warnings and Local Impact
The health minister advised residents in affected areas to remain indoors and wear face masks to guard against risks to their respiratory systems, eyes, and skin. The warning followed reports from local communities of widespread eye irritation caused by falling ash. According to local newspaper Kompas, several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye discomfort, and some fishermen abandoned their sea trips for the same reason.
One resident, Aldi Candra Prayogi, told the outlet that he had been experiencing irritation since Friday evening, saying it felt like "small grains of sand had gotten into my eyes," adding that he needed eye drops to manage the discomfort. He also said the ash was so heavy that he had to sweep the front yard of his house every five minutes. Authorities confirmed there is no tsunami warning connected to the current activity. The volcano sits in the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra.
History of Anak Krakatau
Anak Krakatau, which translates as Child of Krakatoa, emerged from the sea in the early 20th century within the crater left by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa. It has been intermittently active ever since. In December 2018, part of the volcano collapsed into the sea, unleashing a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and injured and displaced thousands along the coastlines of Sumatra and Java. Scientists later found that some of the rock fragments that slid into the sea during that collapse measured between 70 and 90 metres in height.
The current eruption continues to pose significant challenges for Indonesian aviation and local communities, with authorities monitoring the situation closely and advising travellers to check with airlines for updates on flight status and refunds.
