Eight Indonesian Airports Remain Shut Amid Anak Krakatau Volcanic Ash

Eight Indonesian airports, including two serving Jakarta, remained closed early Monday due to volcanic ash from eruptions of Mount Anak Krakatau, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said.

Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau, located between the islands of Java and Sumatra, has blanketed Jakarta and surrounding areas since the volcano erupted late Friday, prompting airport closures for safety reasons.

The Transport Ministry said around 170,000 people had been affected by flight cancellations.

“We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather,” Purwagandhi said in a statement on Monday. He added that the eight airports, including those serving Jakarta and nearby provinces such as Lampung and West Java, would remain closed until at least 8:59 a.m. local time.

According to Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency, the latest eruption occurred at 8:23 p.m. on Sunday.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said volcanic ash had reached altitudes of up to 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) on the Java side and 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) over the Sumatra side and parts of Banten province.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency urged residents to wear masks when outdoors because of the ash. Schools in Jakarta and Lampung have also shifted to remote learning to reduce health risks, state news agency Antara reported.

Indonesia lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau,” emerged about a century ago from the area once occupied by Krakatau, also known as Krakatoa. The original volcano was destroyed during massive eruptions in 1883, which triggered tsunamis and killed more than 36,000 people.