A major volcanic eruption in Indonesia has caused widespread disruption to air travel, with airports closed and more than 170,000 passengers affected after Mount Anak Krakatau sent huge columns of volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
The volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, has erupted several times since Friday, with some ash plumes rising as high as 50,000 feet. The activity has forced authorities to temporarily close eight airports, including Jakarta’s major Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.
By Monday, more than 1,550 flights had been cancelled, while many additional flights were delayed or rerouted as airlines responded to the dangerous ash clouds. The disruption has affected both domestic and international travel, leaving thousands of travellers stranded or forced to change their plans.
Airlines operating in the region, including Singapore Airlines, have cancelled a number of flights and offered passengers options to rebook or receive refunds.
The eruption has also raised concerns about air quality. Volcanic ash can pose serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, while communities near the affected areas have reported exposure to ash. Some schools in Jakarta and parts of Lampung have also switched to online learning as authorities monitor the situation.
Authorities have not ordered a mass evacuation but have advised residents and visitors to remain at least three kilometres away from the volcano’s crater.
Anak Krakatau is historically significant because it is part of the same volcanic system associated with the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption. The volcano also experienced a deadly eruption and tsunami in 2018, when a flank collapse triggered waves that killed hundreds of people along the surrounding coastlines.
Indonesia remains on heightened alert as scientists monitor the volcano for further activity.
The latest eruption highlights the continuing challenges faced by Indonesia, one of the world’s most volcanically active countries, where volcanic activity can rapidly affect aviation, tourism, transportation and local communities.
