Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International airport, outside Jakarta, suspended flight operations on Sunday morning until 1:30pm local time (06:30 GMT) after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau was detected over the capital. The volcano is more than 150km (93 miles) from the airport.
The suspension followed what the airport described as increased eruptive activity. Anak Krakatau began erupting late on Friday, and Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported two additional eruptions on Sunday.
Ash plumes reached high into the atmosphere
Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, said ash was identified at heights of up to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) on the Java side of the volcano. A plume rose as high as 15,000 metres (50,000 feet) over the Sumatra side and parts of Banten province in Java.
The eruption produced a lava fountain and booming sounds that BMKG said could be heard up to 700km (435 miles) away. Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines and reduce visibility, making it a serious aviation hazard.
Airlines reported cancellations and delays
An earlier suspension, scheduled to end at 5:30am local time (22:30 GMT on Saturday), affected 33 flights, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation. The ministry said 16 international flights were cancelled and seven were delayed.
Singapore Airlines cancelled two flights to and from Jakarta on Saturday and delayed two additional flights into Sunday.
Authorities are monitoring tsunami risk and flight safety
Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F Laisa said a “paper test” conducted between 12:35am and 1:05am local time confirmed volcanic ash at the airport. He said safety was the top priority in decisions about flight schedules.
Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said on Saturday that there was no imminent tsunami risk from the eruption. Anak Krakatau emerged in the 1920s inside the caldera left by the 1883 Krakatoa eruption. Its 2018 eruption caused a partial crater collapse and a tsunami that killed more than 400 people along Java and Sumatra.
What happens next
Authorities said they would continue monitoring conditions with airlines, air navigation services and BMKG.
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