Anak Krakatau eruption disrupts 250 flights, closes schools and fishing in Indonesia

An eruption of Indonesia's Mount Anak Krakatau on Sunday forced six airports to suspend operations, grounding hundreds of flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport and disrupting travel across the capital region. The ash plume rose to 3,000 metres, triggering automatic flight‑deconfliction measures and prompting the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority to cancel or divert all scheduled departures and arrivals until the ash cloud dissipated.

Anak Krakatau has been a persistent threat since its 2018 eruption, which collapsed a large portion of the island and caused a deadly tsunami that killed more than 400 people. The volcano sits in the Sunda Strait, a busy shipping lane that links the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its activity is monitored closely by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG), but the sudden surge of ash on Sunday caught many commuters and airlines off‑guard. The eruption also triggered a series of lahars—fast‑moving mudflows—across the surrounding low‑lying plains, forcing the closure of schools and fishing fleets in the nearby towns of Cirebon and Karawang.

Air traffic controllers reported that roughly 250 flights were cancelled or delayed on the day of the eruption, affecting more than 30,000 passengers. Airlines such as Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air issued refunds or rebooking vouchers, while the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation urged the public to avoid non‑essential travel until the ash cloud cleared. Local fishermen, who rely on the strait for their livelihood, were advised to stay inland due to the risk of ash‑laden waters. The BMKG issued a volcanic ash advisory at 06:00 local time, warning that ash concentrations could reach 10 µg/m³, a level that can cause respiratory irritation and reduce visibility for aircraft.

The authorities have deployed additional monitoring equipment to track the volcano’s activity and are coordinating with emergency services to prepare for potential lahars. Residents in the surrounding districts are being briefed on evacuation routes, and the government has earmarked funds for temporary housing should more residents be displaced. The eruption underscores Indonesia’s vulnerability to volcanic hazards, especially in densely populated coastal zones. As the ash cloud settles, officials will assess whether to reopen schools and fishing operations, but they warn that further eruptions could still occur, posing continued risks to aviation, maritime traffic and the livelihoods of millions in the region.