RismadarVoice Reporters
September 6, 2026
An eruption from Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted air travel in Jakarta, forcing the suspension of hundreds of flights, while some schools and fishing activities were also halted.
Reuters reported that Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country’s main gateway near Jakarta, suspended flight operations on Sunday because of volcanic ash.
The airport initially announced that operations would remain suspended until 5:30 a.m. but later extended the closure to 9:30 a.m. local time.
Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said the disruption affected 209 flights, including several international services.
Mount Anak Krakatau has been erupting since late Friday, with volcanic ash reaching the airport early on Sunday, according to the ministry.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, reported that volcanic ash rose to about 20,000 feet (6,000 metres) on the Java side of the volcano. A larger plume, reaching up to 50,000 feet (15,000 metres), was observed over the Sumatra side and parts of Banten province in Java.
Anak Krakatau is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra, within Indonesia’s Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The country’s disaster mitigation agency, BNPB, urged residents to remain calm while taking necessary precautions.
The agency advised people affected by ashfall to wear face masks and eye protection, limit outdoor activities, cover water sources and exercise caution while driving because volcanic ash could reduce visibility.
Several schools suspended activities on Saturday after volcanic ash reportedly caused eye irritation among students and residents, local media outlet Kompas reported.
Fishermen in affected areas also cancelled fishing trips because of the volcanic activity.
Despite the eruption, the BNPB said there was no immediate threat of a tsunami from Anak Krakatau.
However, the volcano has a deadly history. In 2018, an eruption and subsequent tsunami linked to Anak Krakatau killed hundreds of people and injured many others along the coasts of Java and Sumatra.
Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatau”, emerged about a century ago from the area formerly occupied by Krakatau, also known as Krakatoa.
The original Krakatoa volcano was destroyed during a massive eruption in 1883, triggering a series of tsunamis that killed more than 36,000 people.
