Flight Operations Halted at Jakarta Airport Due to Anak Krakatau Eruption
Volcanic activity from Mount Anak Krakatau has led to significant flight cancellations at Indonesia's main airport, affecting hundreds of travelers.
Flights suspended at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport due to volcanic ash.
301 flights affected, including 58 international services.
No tsunami risk reported, but measures are being taken to mitigate ash impact.
Flight operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia's primary international gateway located near Jakarta, have been suspended following the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. The volcanic ash from the eruption, which began late on Friday, has spread over the capital, prompting the airport to halt operations until 5:30 PM local time on Sunday, stranding numerous passengers.
The eruption of Anak Krakatau has caused significant disruptions, with the airport operator Angkasa Pura reporting that 301 flights have been canceled, including 58 international routes. Singapore Airlines announced the cancellation of its flights to and from Jakarta for the remainder of the day. In addition to Soekarno-Hatta, operations were suspended at six other airports, including Husein Sastranegara in Bandung and Radin Inten II near Bandar Lampung on Sumatra. The Transportation Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, mentioned that alternative airports in cities like Semarang and Surabaya are being prepared for landing.
The volcanic activity has not only affected air travel but has also led to the cancellation of school activities and fishing trips due to irritation caused by the ash. The meteorological agency BMKG reported that the eruption produced a lava fountain and booming sounds audible from as far as 700 kilometers away. Ash clouds reached heights of 6,000 meters on Java and up to 15,000 meters on the Sumatra side, with two new eruptions recorded on Sunday.
Despite the disruptions, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, has stated that there is no immediate tsunami threat from the eruption. The agency is implementing measures such as cloud-seeding to encourage rainfall, which could help wash away the ash. BNPB chief Suharyanto emphasized that heavy rain would expedite the clearing of ash that has been affecting daily life since the eruption began.
Anak Krakatau, which emerged in the 1920s following the catastrophic 1883 Krakatoa eruption, has a history of periodic eruptions. The volcano's previous activity included a significant eruption in 2018 that resulted in a partial collapse of its crater and a tsunami, leading to over 400 fatalities along the coasts of Java and Sumatra. The current volcanic ash poses a serious risk to aviation, as it can damage aircraft engines and impair visibility.
