Eight Indonesian airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, remain closed until at least 6:00 PM local time due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau. The closures have disrupted 467 flight movements, affecting approximately 170,000 passengers since the volcano erupted late Friday, authorities confirmed on Monday.
Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the closures are necessary for safety, citing dynamic weather conditions that prevent accurate predictions on when operations may resume. The closure order was extended from an earlier deadline of 8:59 AM local time after Jakarta’s main airport updated its schedule on social media.
The eruption of Anak Krakatau, located between Java and Sumatra, began at 11:07 PM local time on Friday and lasted approximately 25 hours, ending at 12:04 AM on Sunday, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Volcanic ash reached altitudes of 20,000 feet on the Java side and 50,000 feet on the Sumatra side, blanketing Jakarta and Lampung province. The ash forced the temporary suspension of operations at Soekarno-Hatta, Southeast Asia’s second-busiest airport by scheduled airline seat capacity this month.
Immediate Impact on Travel
The closures have stranded thousands of passengers, with Singapore Airlines canceling nine flights between Singapore and Jakarta on Monday and its budget carrier Scoot also suspending services. Citilink passengers at Soekarno-Hatta reported long queues for ticket refunds, while tourist Diego Urdiales, stranded in Jakarta, noted the disruption as an inconvenience amid uncertainty over rescheduling options.
By Sunday evening, 467 flight movements had been affected at Soekarno-Hatta alone, with 202 flights canceled and 167 others disrupted. The airport’s closure was initially ordered until 9:30 PM local time on Sunday before being extended. Affected airports include Radin Inten II in Lampung and Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta.
Health and Safety Measures
Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, issued warnings for residents to wear masks outdoors due to airborne ash. In Jakarta and Lampung, schools transitioned to remote learning to mitigate health risks. The disaster agency also advised staying at least three kilometers from the active crater, though no evacuation orders were issued. The nearest settlement is more than 16 kilometers away, and no casualties have been reported.
Volcanic Activity and Regional Context
Anak Krakatau, meaning “child of Krakatau,” emerged a century ago from the site of the 1883 Krakatoa eruption, which killed over 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Geological Agency reported that the volcano showed signs of activity since Friday before erupting for 30 seconds at 3:53 AM local time on Sunday, with closed-circuit camera footage capturing lava flares.
AirNav Indonesia closed airspace around Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and six other airports due to the ash hazard. The agency has not provided a revised timeline for reopening, emphasizing the need for safe conditions before resuming operations.