Indonesia Cancels Flights, Closes Schools As Anak Krakatau Erupts

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano erupted in the Sunda Strait on Sunday, September 6, sending volcanic ash across parts of Java and Sumatra, disrupting hundreds of flights and prompting school closures in affected areas.

The volcano had shown increased activity since Friday before erupting for about 30 seconds at 3:53 a.m. Sunday. Indonesia’s Geological Agency said monitoring cameras captured lava flares and fountains, while video footage cited by WION showed the eruption accompanied by booming sounds.

The eruption forced the temporary suspension of operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after volcanic ash reached the airport area. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said 373 flight movements had been affected by 10:35 a.m., with six airports impacted. More than 200 flights were initially grounded.

The affected airports included Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten II, Budiarto, Pondok Cabe and Husein Sastranegara. At Soekarno-Hatta, an earlier closure affected 209 flight movements and about 22,800 passengers. Flights involving Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha and Amsterdam were among those disrupted, along with domestic services to Makassar, Lampung, Bali and Surabaya.

Authorities identified two ash clouds, with one rising to about 20,000 feet and another reaching 50,000 feet. The plumes spread across Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung and Bengkulu, as well as the southern Sunda Strait and waters west of Sumatra.

Schools were closed in areas affected by ashfall, while residents were advised to wear masks, limit outdoor activity and protect food and water supplies.

Anak Krakatau remains at Level III (Siaga), Indonesia’s second-highest alert level. Authorities have maintained a 3-kilometre exclusion zone around the crater. No deaths, injuries or major structural damage have been reported, and no mass evacuation has been ordered.

Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau”, emerged from the remnants of Krakatau, whose 1883 eruption triggered a devastating tsunami and global climatic effects. In 2018, an Anak Krakatau eruption caused an underwater landslide and tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Java and Sumatra.

Authorities continue monitoring the volcano and ash movement, while passengers have been advised to check with airlines before travelling.