JAKARTA: Indonesia temporarily suspended flights at Jakarta’s main international airport on Sunday after Anak Krakatau erupted, sending volcanic ash tens of thousands of feet into the atmosphere and causing widespread disruption across parts of Java and Sumatra.
At least 209 flights carrying around 22,800 passengers were affected at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as authorities responded to ash drifting towards major aviation routes. Domestic services and international flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Seoul, Doha, and Kuala Lumpur were among those disrupted.
The eruption sent ash as high as 50,000 feet, with its effects reported across Banten, West Java, Lampung and surrounding areas.
Schools and fishing activities were also suspended in some affected communities, and residents were advised to remain indoors and wear protective equipment due to volcanic ash. Some people reported eye irritation.
Authorities said there was no immediate tsunami threat, although people were warned to remain outside a restricted zone around the volcano.
Anak Krakatau lies in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra and emerged from the remains of the historic Krakatau volcano. A major collapse following a 2018 eruption generated a tsunami that killed hundreds of people along nearby coastlines.
Indonesian aviation and disaster authorities continued to monitor the ash plume before determining when normal flight operations could safely resume.