Anak Krakatau eruption prompts Jakarta airport to cancel flights

Geology agency warns of glowing rock and heavy ash

The cloud of fine ash reached the airspace over Jakarta, prompting authorities at the city's main airport to suspend operations for a period. Volcanic ash is hazardous to jet engines because the particles can melt inside turbines, harden on cooling surfaces and ultimately cause engine failure, which is why aviation regulators treat even modest ash encounters as a safety emergency.

Why volcanic ash grounds aircraft

Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights as a result, stranding passengers at terminals and disrupting regional travel plans. Operators said they would reassess conditions before restoring service, in coordination with the airport authority and the geology agency's updated ash forecasts.

Anak Krakatau first emerged above sea level in 1927, rising from the caldera formed by the catastrophic 1883 eruption of its predecessor, Krakatau. That earlier blast killed tens of thousands of people and was one of the deadliest volcanic events in modern history. The current island volcano has been intermittently active ever since, producing frequent small eruptions and the occasional larger event.

A volcano born from a historic catastrophe

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a seismically active belt where more than 130 active volcanoes are distributed along tectonic plate boundaries. The country regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and its civil aviation and disaster agencies have developed protocols for managing ash plumes and mass cancellations.

Indonesia's position on the Ring of Fire

The Saturday eruption was the latest reminder of the volatility of the Sunda Strait region. In late 2018, a flank collapse of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people along the coastlines of Sumatra and Java, underscoring the broader hazards surrounding the volcano beyond its airborne ash.

Authorities said they were monitoring the volcano's activity around the clock and would issue updates as conditions evolved. Travellers were advised to check directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.