Mount Anak Krakatau Eruption Strands 170,000 Travelers Across Eight Indonesian Airports

Eight Indonesian airports, including two serving Jakarta, remained closed early on Monday morning due to volcanic ash from eruptions at Mount Anak Krakatau, the transport minister stated. Ash from Anak Krakatau, located halfway between Java and Sumatra islands, has blanketed Jakarta and surrounding areas since erupting late on Friday, forcing airport closures for safety reasons.

The transport ministry reported that 170,000 people have been affected by widespread flight cancellations. Jakarta's main airport will stay closed until 6 p.m. local time, according to an Instagram announcement by its operators on Monday.

“We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather,” Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said in a Monday statement. He added that the seven other airports—including those serving nearby provinces of Lampung and West Java—will remain closed until at least 08:59 a.m.

Data from the volcano monitoring agency indicates the most recent Anak Krakatau eruption happened Sunday at 8:23 p.m., with officials warning on Monday that the likelihood of continued eruptions remains high. Meteorological agency BMKG reported that ash plumes reached heights of 20,000 feet on the Java side and up to 50,000 feet on the Sumatra side, affecting parts of Banten province.

In response to the hazard, the disaster agency advised citizens to wear masks outdoors. Additionally, schools in Jakarta and Lampung have shifted to remote learning to protect students from health risks, according to state news agency Antara.

Indonesia is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Anak Krakatau emerged a century ago in the region previously occupied by Krakatoa, the ancient volcano that triggered mass eruptions and deadly tsunamis in 1883.