Mount Anak Krakatau's Volcanic Ash Disrupts 2,300 Flights, Affecting Over 270,000 Passengers: Officials Warn ‘Probability of Further Eruptions Remains High’
Indonesia kept seven airports closed Monday after ash from Mount Anak Krakatau spread across western Indonesia, disrupting 2,300 flights and affecting more than 270,000 passengers.
Jakarta Airport Shutdown Disrupts Thousands Of Flights
Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said 963 flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport alone were affected as of Sunday evening. Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta and airports serving Lampung, Bandung, Tangerang, South Tangerang, and Pesisir Barat were also shut. The airport in South Sumatra was shut on Sunday but later reopened.
"We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather," Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said on Monday in a statement shared with Reuters. Soekarno-Hatta’s operator said the hub would remain closed until 6 p.m. local time (7:00 AM ET) on Monday as authorities monitored ash movement.
US Embassy Warns Travelers To Stay Alert
The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta issued a Natural Disaster Alert on Sept. 6 for Americans traveling in Indonesia over the Anak Krakatau eruption. The State Department’s current Indonesia advisory remains Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution," and specifically cites natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions, which can disrupt transportation, infrastructure and health services.
U.S. guidance tells travelers to monitor local media, prepare to adjust plans, maintain a way to depart during an emergency without relying on U.S. government assistance and follow Indonesian geological authorities. Americans can also enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, for embassy safety updates. For emergencies, the embassy lists +62-21-5083-1000.
The disruption follows other major travel shocks, including 23,000-plus Middle East flight cancellations earlier this year.
Further Eruptions Remain A Continuing Threat
Indonesia’s Geological Agency kept Anak Krakatau at Level III, or Alert, and warned Monday that "the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high." Officials prohibit visitors within three kilometers of the crater and advise people exposed to ash to reduce outdoor activity or wear masks.
Ash reached roughly 50,000 feet on the Sumatra side and 20,000 feet toward Java, according to Indonesia’s meteorological agency.
Indonesia has repeatedly faced major eruptions along the Pacific Ring of Fire, including Mount Semeru’s 2022 eruption. Anak Krakatau triggered a deadly tsunami in 2018, highlighting why authorities continue to the volcano even though officials say the current activity presents no immediate tsunami threat.
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