Indonesia volcano eruption forces airport closures
Anak Krakatau volcano erupted twice in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait early Sunday, sending volcanic ash across parts of western Indonesia and forcing the closure of several airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The volcano first erupted for around 30 seconds at 3:53 am, followed by another eruption lasting about 16 seconds roughly three hours later, according to Indonesia’s Geological Agency. Monitoring cameras captured lava flares from the active volcano.
No deaths or injuries were reported, and authorities did not order evacuations. However, residents and visitors were advised to stay at least 3 kilometres from the crater. The nearest settlement is located more than 16 kilometres away.
Volcanic ash reached parts of Jakarta and Lampung, prompting AirNav Indonesia to close airspace around Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma airports, along with six other airports, including Radin Inten II in Lampung.
The disruption affected hundreds of flights. By Sunday evening, 467 flights at Soekarno-Hatta alone had been impacted, affecting around 150,000 passengers. The airport was scheduled to remain closed until 11:59 pm.
Operations were also disrupted at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and airports in Medan.
Authorities identified two volcanic ash clouds through satellite monitoring. One rose to about 20,000 feet, while another reached approximately 50,000 feet and spread across several provinces and surrounding waters.
Indonesia’s Geological Agency said volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau has intensified since July, with Sunday’s eruption being the strongest during that period. Officials warned that the volcano remains active, with ash, volcanic gases and hot rocks posing potential hazards.
Anak Krakatau emerged after the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption. In 2018, an eruption of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Java and Sumatra.
with inputs from PTI
