Home / Disasters and Accidents / Krakatau Erupts: Flights Halted in Jakarta
Krakatau Erupts: Flights Halted in Jakarta
6 Sep
Summary
- Indonesia airport halted operations due to volcanic ash.
- Over 22,000 passengers affected by flight cancellations.
- Krakatau volcano last erupted extensively in 1883.
Operations at Indonesia's main international airport, Soekarno-Hatta, were suspended on Sunday due to ash from the Mount Anak Krakatau volcano. The eruption, which began on Saturday, produced a significant lava fountain and audible sounds extending hundreds of kilometers.
Two more eruptions were recorded on Sunday, leading to the airport's operational halt from early Sunday morning. The ash detected in the airspace prompted authorities to extend the closure multiple times, ultimately affecting over 22,000 passengers and 209 flights, including major international routes and domestic services to Bali.
Mount Anak Krakatau, meaning 'Child of Krakatoa', is situated in the strait separating Java and Sumatra. Vessels in the vicinity have been warned to maintain vigilance and avoid a 3-km exclusion zone around the volcano due to ongoing volcanic activity.
The volcano has been sporadically active since its emergence in the early 20th century within the caldera of the infamous 1883 Krakatoa eruption. That historic event was one of history's deadliest, causing an estimated 35,000 fatalities.
