By Benson Daniel
A major volcanic eruption in Indonesia has disrupted air travel across the country, leaving about 170,000 passengers affected as volcanic ash forced the closure of seven airports, including major facilities serving Jakarta.
Mount Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, has been erupting since late Friday, sending thick clouds of ash into surrounding airspace. The eruption has caused widespread flight cancellations, delays and diversions as authorities work to keep aircraft away from dangerous volcanic ash.
Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said eight airports had initially suspended operations because of ash contamination. By Monday, one of the airports had resumed operations, leaving seven still closed, although some later extended their shutdowns because of continued volcanic activity and changing weather conditions.
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country’s main international gateway, extended its closure until 6pm local time on Monday. Airport authorities said they could not determine when normal operations would fully resume because weather conditions around the ash cloud remained unpredictable.
The disruption has affected thousands of domestic and international services. More than 1,500 flights were delayed or cancelled across the affected airports during the initial shutdown, with more than 900 involving Soekarno-Hatta alone.
Airlines operating routes between Indonesia and major international destinations have been forced to cancel or reschedule services. Passengers travelling to and from cities including Singapore, Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur have been caught up in the disruption.
Volcanic ash poses a serious threat to aviation because it can damage aircraft engines, reduce visibility and interfere with aircraft systems. Authorities have therefore prioritised aviation safety rather than risk allowing flights to operate through contaminated airspace.
The eruption has also affected daily life in Jakarta and other parts of the country. Schools in Jakarta moved classes online as ash spread across the capital, while residents in affected areas have reported ash covering roads and vehicles. Health authorities have urged people to limit exposure and take precautions against respiratory and eye irritation.
Anak Krakatau produced powerful eruptions over the weekend, with ash plumes reaching as high as 50,000 feet in some areas. The volcano also generated lava fountains and explosions that were reportedly heard hundreds of kilometres away.
Despite the intensity of the activity, Indonesia’s disaster authorities said there was no immediate tsunami threat from the latest eruptions. Ships operating in the Sunda Strait have nevertheless been warned to exercise caution, while vessels are prohibited from entering a three kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano.
Anak Krakatau has a particularly dangerous history. The volcano emerged from the caldera created by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in recorded history. In 2018, another eruption caused part of Anak Krakatau to collapse into the sea, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people along the coasts of Java and Sumatra.
Authorities have continued monitoring the volcano for signs of further escalation. Although the latest eruptions have begun to ease at times, officials remain cautious because volcanic activity and weather conditions can change rapidly.
For thousands of stranded travellers, the immediate priority is finding alternative flights and accommodation as airlines work through a growing backlog. Indonesian authorities have also identified airports in cities including Semarang and Surabaya as alternative landing points.
The disruption underscores the vulnerability of Indonesia’s busy aviation network to volcanic activity. With the country sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire and home to numerous active volcanoes, airlines and authorities regularly have to balance the demands of air travel with the unpredictable risks posed by eruptions.
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