Anak Krakatau eruption closes eight Indonesian airports, strands 170,000 passengers
Volcanic ash from the Sunda Strait volcano halted flights across western Indonesia on Sunday, affecting over 1,500 flights.
KEY POINTS
- Anak Krakatau erupted twice on 6 September, sending ash over western Indonesia
- Eight airports closed including Jakarta's two main hubs
- 1,558 flights canceled, about 170,000 passengers stranded
- No casualties or evacuation orders; nearest village 16 km away
- Airports to stay closed until 08:59 Monday pending ash assessment
Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted twice on Sunday, sending ash across western Java and Sumatra and forcing the closure of eight airports including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma. Authorities shut airspace after the geological agency warned that ash could damage aircraft engines.
The eruptions occurred at 03:53 local time for 30 seconds and again about three hours later for 16 seconds, according to the Geological Agency. No casualties were reported and no evacuation order was issued, as the nearest settlement lies more than 16 kilometres from the crater.
“It's a natural disaster, it's a force majeure, so, what can we do?”
By Sunday evening, 1,558 flights had been canceled, stranding roughly 170,000 passengers. More than 900 of the affected flights were at Soekarno-Hatta alone. The transport ministry designated airports in Semarang and Surabaya as alternative landing sites.
All eight airports were ordered to remain closed until 08:59 Monday while officials monitor ash dispersion. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it was coordinating with airlines to manage the disruption.
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