Indonesian authorities announced on Sunday, September 6, the suspension of operations at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta international airport, following the eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano, located more than 150 kilometres from the capital. The suspension is due to the intensification of eruptive activity and the dispersal of volcanic ash in the airport area, which led to its closure from 01:30. Operations were expected to resume at 13:30 local time.
The Anak Krakatoa volcano erupted on Saturday, releasing a lava flow and causing explosions audible up to 700 kilometres away. Two new eruptions were recorded on Sunday, according to the Indonesian volcanology agency. The suspension affected 209 flights and more than 22,000 passengers, with the most affected international route being the connection between Indonesia and Singapore. The disruptions also extended to the operation of Bali airport.
Anak Krakatoa is located in the strait separating the islands of Java and Sumatra and has recorded sporadic activity since it emerged in the early 20th century, within the caldera formed after the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, a catastrophe estimated at 35,000 dead. Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago, lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a region characterized by intense volcanic and seismic activity.
