Indonesia suspended flights at eight airports following the eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano, which sent ash several kilometers into the sky, leaving over 170,000 passengers stranded.
On Sunday, 6 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano caused widespread volcanic ash to spread in the air, leading authorities to suspend services at eight airports, including the main airport in Jakarta. This affected more than 1,500 flights and approximately 170,000 passengers.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta canceled 964 flights, with officials halting operations until midnight Monday after detecting volcanic ash. The airport management provided food, drinks, and shuttle services to hotels for stranded passengers.
Anak Krakatau emitted ash plumes reaching 6,000 meters over Java and up to 15,000 meters over Sumatra. Nearby residents began experiencing eye irritation from ash dust. Authorities urgently distributed face masks, while governors of Lampung province and Jakarta ordered schools to switch to online learning starting Monday.
Ferry services through the Sunda Strait continue operating normally, but Indonesian authorities have instructed vessels to maintain a minimum distance of 3 kilometers from the volcano’s crater.
The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) reported that officials are conducting cloud seeding to help wash volcanic ash from the atmosphere.
Anak Krakatau is one of five Indonesian volcanoes under a level 3 alert, the second-highest warning. On the same day, Mount Semeru also erupted, sending ash plumes one kilometer high.
Officials confirmed there is no current tsunami risk, contrasting with the 2018 event when Anak Krakatau’s eruption caused a massive flank collapse into the sea, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 437 people and injured thousands.
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Source:cna