Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupts, airport closures, many flights cancelled
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Nature has unleashed its raw fury in Southeast Asia as Indonesia’s infamous Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early Sunday morning, sending colossal plumes of ash soaring high into the stratosphere. Located in the treacherous Sunda Strait between the major islands of Java and Sumatra, the sudden eruption has triggered widespread aviation chaos across western Indonesia, resulting in the cancellation of over 1,500 flights and stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers at major transportation hubs.
Massive Ash Plumes Reach Up to 50,000 Feet and Ground Jakarta Airports
According to Indonesia's geological agency and the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, the volcanic activity began intensifying on Friday before culminating in explosive bursts at 3:53 a.m. Sunday, sending lava gushing down its slopes. Satellite imagery tracked two massive ash clouds: the first plume climbed to 20,000 feet, drifting northeast over Jakarta and West Java, while a secondary, colossal plume surged to 50,000 feet, blanketing Banten, Lampung, Benkulu provinces, and stretches of the Indian Ocean. In response to the severe visibility and engine hazards posed by volcanic glass and ash, AirNav Indonesia ordered the immediate closure of Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, alongside six regional airfields, including Lampung's Radin Inten-2 Airport.
Massive Travel Disruption and Strict Safety Warnings Issued by Authorities
By Sunday evening, the grounding of flights at Soekarno-Hatta Airport alone disrupted 964 flights, impacting approximately 170,000 travelers. While disaster mitigation agency BNPB confirmed that no casualties or immediate structural damages have been reported—largely due to the volcano's isolation, with the nearest settlement sitting over 16 kilometers away—authorities have maintained a strict safety perimeter. Officials have strongly urged residents and tourists to stay at least three kilometers away from the active crater, while advising local populations to remain indoors, wear protective masks and goggles against falling ash, cover water reservoirs, and exercise extreme caution on ash-slicked roads.
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