Indonesia has reopened five airports after a volcanic eruption from Anak Krakatau disrupted air travel for two days, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.
Anak Krakatau began erupting late on Friday, sending lava fountains and volcanic ash into parts of Java and Sumatra, including Jakarta and Lampung.
Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was among those forced to suspend operations, reopening at 00:30 local time on Tuesday. The disruption affected nearly 3,000 flights and more than 340,000 passengers.
Stranded travellers faced long queues, repeated flight cancellations and uncertainty over when services would resume, with some forced to find alternative transport.
Eruption Remains Active
Indonesia’s Geological Agency warned that the risk of further eruptions remains high. Volcanic ash reportedly reached altitudes of up to 15,000 metres in parts of Sumatra and western Java.
Authorities have established a 3km exclusion zone around the volcano and prohibited ships from entering the restricted area in the Sunda Strait. There is currently no tsunami warning linked to the latest eruption.
Transport officials said airport authorities were conducting regular checks to monitor whether volcanic ash was spreading or clearing.
A Volcano With a Deadly History
Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa”, emerged from the sea in the caldera created by the devastating 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa.
In December 2018, part of Anak Krakatau collapsed into the sea, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 400 people and affected communities along the coasts of Java and Sumatra.
The latest activity has again highlighted the risks posed by one of Indonesia’s most active volcanic regions.
Main Image: Asean Today
