Mount Anak Krakatau eruption disrupts 209 flights at Jakarta airport

AN eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau has forced the suspension of 209 flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, including several international services, after volcanic ash was detected in the area.

The airport said flight operations had been suspended until 9.30am local time on Sunday because of the ash, extending an earlier suspension scheduled to last until 5.30am.

Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said the disruption had affected 209 flights as the volcano continued to erupt after activity began late on Friday.

The meteorological agency BMKG said volcanic ash had been detected at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) on the Java side of the volcano, while a plume reaching 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) was observed towards Sumatra and parts of Banten province in Java.

Mount Anak Krakatau lies roughly halfway between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia’s volcanic archipelago, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) urged the public to remain calm while increasing vigilance.

“In the event of ashfall, people are advised to wear masks and eye protection, reduce outdoor activities, cover water sources and exercise caution when driving, as volcanic ash can reduce visibility,” Reuters reported BNPB spokesman Berton Panjaitan saying today.

Several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents experienced eye irritation from volcanic ash, while fishermen also called off fishing trips, local media reported.

The disaster agency said there was no imminent risk of a tsunami from the eruption.

However, the volcano has a deadly history. An eruption of Anak Krakatau in 2018 triggered a tsunami that killed hundreds and injured hundreds more on Java and Sumatra.

Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau”, emerged about a century ago from the area once occupied by Krakatau, also known as Krakatoa.

The original Krakatoa was destroyed in a massive eruption in 1883 that killed more than 36,000 people, largely through a series of devastating tsunamis. - September 6, 2026