Anak Krakatau Erupts, Jakarta Airport Suspends Flights as Ash Spreads

Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted in the early hours of Sunday, sending ash clouds across western Indonesia and forcing a temporary suspension of operations at Jakarta's main international airport.

The eruption, which lasted about 30 seconds and began at 3:53 a.m. local time, followed increased volcanic activity observed since Friday. The Geological Agency of Indonesia reported that monitoring cameras captured lava flares from the volcano, which is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

While no casualties or evacuation orders were reported, authorities have advised residents and visitors to remain at least three kilometers away from the active crater.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta halted flight operations from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The closure affected 209 flight movements and approximately 22,800 passengers. Airspace around two other airports—Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta and Radin Inten II in Lampung—was also closed.

International flights to and from destinations including Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur experienced cancellations, delays, or schedule changes. Domestic routes to Makassar, Lampung, Bali, and Surabaya were also disrupted, with some flights canceled or diverted. Services between Jakarta and Bali were particularly affected, though Bali's main airport reported normal overall operations.

Satellite imagery identified two ash clouds from the eruption. One rose to approximately 20,000 feet and drifted northeast, affecting parts of Jakarta, Banten, and West Java. A second cloud reached about 50,000 feet and moved west and northwest over Banten, Lampung, and Bengkulu.

Anak Krakatau, meaning "Child of Krakatau," emerged from the caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption. The volcano has shown increased activity since July, with Sunday's eruption being the strongest in the current period of unrest. Officials noted that repeated eruptions, earthquakes, and tremors indicate ongoing movement of magma and gases beneath the surface.

The volcano remains at the second-highest alert level on Indonesia's four-tier warning system. In 2018, an eruption of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people, caused by an underwater landslide from the collapse of part of the volcano's slope.