8 Indonesian airports remain shut due to volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau

Eight airports in Indonesia, including two airports serving Jakarta, remained closed early Monday due to heavy volcanic ash from eruptions at Mount Anak Krakatau.

The volcano, located between the Java and Sumatra islands, has been releasing ash since a major eruption late Friday, affecting air travel and forcing authorities to shut airports for safety reasons.

170,000 Passengers Affected by Flight Cancellations

Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said that around 170,000 passengers have been impacted by flight cancellations caused by the volcanic ash disruption.

Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said authorities could not predict when normal operations would resume due to changing weather conditions.

The seven additional airports, including facilities serving areas near Jakarta such as Lampung and West Java, were expected to remain closed until at least 8:59 am on Monday.

Anak Krakatau Continues to Erupt

According to Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency, the latest eruption of Anak Krakatau occurred on Sunday at 8:23 pm.

The agency warned that the possibility of further eruptions remains high in the coming days.

Volcanic ash clouds reportedly reached:

20,000 feet (6,000 metres) on the Java side of the volcano

50,000 feet (15,000 metres) toward the Sumatra side and parts of Banten province

Health Advisories Issued Amid Ashfall

Indonesia’s disaster agency advised residents to wear masks while outdoors to reduce exposure to volcanic ash.

In Jakarta and Lampung, schools are switching to remote learning to help protect students from potential health risks caused by the ash.

Indonesia’s Volcanic Risk Zone

Indonesia is located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Mount Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa,” emerged about a century ago from the area once occupied by the original Krakatoa volcano.

The historic Krakatoa eruption in 1883 was one of the world’s most powerful volcanic events, destroying the volcano and triggering tsunamis that killed more than 36,000 people.