Indonesia Suspends Main Airport Operations After Anak Krakatoa Eruption

Indonesia halted operations at its main international airport outside Jakarta after ash from Mount Anak Krakatoa was detected in the airspace around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The volcano lies more than 150 kilometers away.

The suspension affected more than 22,000 passengers and 209 flights, the transport ministry said. Singapore routes faced the greatest disruption, while other affected international services included Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur. The airport closure began at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and was extended until 9:30 a.m. after further tests indicated volcanic ash in the airport area.

Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted on Saturday, producing a fountain of lava and booming sounds that the geology agency said could be heard up to 700 kilometers away. The volcanology agency later warned that two new eruptions had been recorded on Sunday.

Anak Krakatoa, whose name means Child of Krakatoa, stands in the strait between Java and Sumatra. It emerged from the sea at the beginning of the last century inside the caldera created by the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa. That disaster killed an estimated 35,000 people. Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plate boundaries contribute to intense volcanic and seismic activity.

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The latest paper test showed positive results indicating the spread of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area; consequently, the airport closure was extended until Sunday at 09.30am.