Volcanic island in Indonesia erupts, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands

A volcano erupted in Indonesia on Sunday, causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers. The volcanic island of Anak Krakatau, situated in Indonesia's Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, erupted twice on Sunday, once at 3:53 a.m. and again three hours later. According to Indonesia’s Geological Agency, the volcano had shown signs of activity since Friday. Closed-circuit camera footage captured lava flares from the volcano. No casualties were reported, and no evacuation orders were issued. Authorities advised residents and visitors to stay at least 3 kilometers (2 miles) away from the active crater. Volcanic ash spread across parts of Jakarta and Lampung province on Sumatra’s southern tip. AirNav Indonesia closed airspace around Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma airports in Jakarta, along with six other airports, including Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung, due to the ash. By Sunday evening, the closure of eight airports had affected 170,000 passengers from 1,558 canceled flights, including 963 flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport alone. All eight airports remained closed until 8:59 a.m. Monday. Diego Urdiales, a Spanish tourist expecting to return to Madrid, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from his airline. Michele Gouw, an Indonesian passenger, acknowledged the situation as a natural disaster and said travelers had to accept the delay and await instructions from airlines and airports. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated it was monitoring the eruption’s impact on air travel and coordinating with airlines, airport operators, air navigation services, and the meteorology agency. Safety was emphasized as the top priority in all decisions related to flight operations. According to Indonesia’s volcanology agency and the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, two ash clouds were identified using satellite imagery. One plume reached 20,000 feet (6,100 meters) and drifted northeast over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and nearby waters. Another cloud reached 50,000 feet (15,200 meters) and spread over parts of Banten, Lampung, and Bengkulu provinces, the southern Sunda Strait, and sections of the Indian Ocean west of Sumatra. Lana Saria, head of Indonesia’s Geological Agency, noted that activity at Anak Krakatau had intensified since July, with Sunday’s eruption being the strongest during that period. She explained that the repeated eruptions indicated a continuous supply of magma and volcanic gases beneath the volcano, although officials could not predict if a larger eruption would occur. The eruption’s impact extended beyond air travel. Schools in affected regions moved to online learning, and some fishing activities were disrupted. The closest township to the volcano was more than 16 kilometers (10 miles) away, but authorities maintained a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the active crater. Ships traveling through the Sunda Strait were banned from entering the restricted area, and residents in affected areas were advised to wear masks outdoors. Authorities suspended operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the country’s largest, and other airports, citing concerns about volcanic ash. The airport announced on Instagram that it had suspended flight operations until 9:30 a.m. local time due to the ash. Transport minister Dudy Purwagandhi mentioned that tests were being conducted every 30 minutes at airports to monitor whether the ash spread was widening or subsiding. He noted that the disruption’s duration was uncertain due to dynamic weather conditions. Indonesia’s Geological Agency warned that the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remained high. Ash reached 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) on the Java side of the volcano and 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) on the Sumatra side, according to the meteorological agency BMKG. The most recent eruption occurred at 20:23 on Sunday. Stranded passengers faced logistical challenges, with some seeking refunds and trying to find alternative travel arrangements. A newlywed couple planning to return to Malaysia from Bali found their flight delayed until September 11, extending their stay in Indonesia unexpectedly. Others, like Finna, who was supposed to fly from Malang to Jakarta, resorted to intercity train rides to manage the delays. Authorities have also considered weather modification techniques, including cloud-seeding, to induce rainfall that might wash away the volcanic ash. The disaster mitigation agency BNPB discussed these measures in a press conference. Meanwhile, airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qantas reported disruptions to their services, emphasizing safety as their primary concern. The eruption of Anak Krakatau continues to pose challenges for both air travel and local communities, with ongoing monitoring required to assess future risks.