In brief
The Anak Krakatau volcano erupted late Friday, spewing ash that grounded more than 2,000 flights across Indonesia. Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport and three other airports suspended operations until 1800 local time Monday, leaving about 270,000 passengers in limbo. Volcanic ash reached altitudes of 6,000 m near Java and 15,000 m near Sumatra, prompting authorities to warn against entering a 3 km radius around the active crater. The eruption followed Anak Krakatau’s historic collapse in 2018, which killed over 400 people. Airlines and travellers are scrambling for refunds, alternative routes, and accommodation while experts monitor the volcano’s volatile activity.
Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano erupted late on Friday, sending molten lava and ash clouds across Jakarta and the surrounding provinces.
With ash detected at high altitudes—up to 6,000 m over Java and 15,000 m over Sumatra—four major airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International, were forced to suspend operations until 1800 local time Monday.
Airlines grounded more than 2,000 flights, leaving roughly 270,000 passengers stranded across Indonesia. Many have been forced to stay overnight in airport hotels while waiting for cleared skies, and some have resorted to taking intercity trains to reach their destinations.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi noted that airports were conducting 30‑minute ash‑weather tests to gauge the spread. Authorities warned against activities within a 3‑km radius of the crater, and ships passing through the Sunda Strait were barred from entering the exclusion zone.
The eruption follows Anak Krakatau’s catastrophic 2018 collapse that triggered a tsunami killing over 400 people. With the volcano still seismically active, scientists and emergency crews continue to monitor the situation closely.
