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Anak Krakatau eruption halts flights at Jakarta airport

natureSep 6, 202615331

Anak Krakatau erupted early Sunday, prompting Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta to cancel all flights as volcanic ash drifted across parts of western Indonesia. Indonesia’s Geological Agency said the volcano in the Sunda Strait erupted for 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m., and closed-circuit cameras showed lava flares. Authorities reported no casualties and issued no evacuation; the nearest settlement is more than 16 kilometers away, and residents were advised to stay at least 3 kilometers from the crater. Soekarno-Hatta temporarily suspended operations from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., leaving 170 aircraft on airport aprons overnight as passengers sought refunds and reclaimed checked baggage. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said 209 flight movements and about 22,800 passengers were affected, with Singapore the single international destination with the most disruptions. Other international services to Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Doha and Kuala Lumpur were also disrupted, and domestic routes to Lampung, Bali and Surabaya were canceled or diverted. Transportation director general Lukman F. Laisa warned of cascading schedule impacts and urged travelers to check with airlines and avoid the airport unless necessary.

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