Krakatau eruption: Volcanic ash forces suspension of more than 300 flights at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport | TodayNews

The eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau mountain disrupted air traffic around Jakarta and volcanic ash forced the suspension of more than 300 flights at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday.

The volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, began erupting late Friday. Volcanic ash was discovered near Jakarta’s main international airport early Sunday, prompting authorities to suspend flight operations.

209 flights were suspended at Jakarta airport

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport said on Instagram that flight operations were suspended until 9:30 a.m. (local time) (0230 GMT) due to volcanic ash. The suspension was later extended until 17:30 (1030 GMT).

The suspension, extended several times, affected 301 flights, including 58 international flights, airport operator Angkasa Pura said in a statement. Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines announced that they had canceled flights to and from Jakarta for the rest of the day, Reuters wrote.

More than 22,000 people were affected by the suspension, according to a BBC report. Flights to and from Singapore were among those most affected, along with other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

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Why were the flights suspended?

Volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau has been detected in the airspace near Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. According to Reuters, ash was detected up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) on the Java side of the volcano, while the plume reached up to 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) on the Sumatra side and in parts of Java’s Banten province.

The eruption was accompanied by continuous seismic activity, lava fountains and rumbling sounds in the surrounding areas, the BBC reported. Two more eruptions appeared early on Sunday, the news further mentioned.

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Fishing activities stopped

Several schools canceled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye irritation from volcanic ash, local media outlet Kompas reported. Some anglers have also canceled fishing trips after experiencing eye pain.

Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency, BNPB, has urged people to remain calm but to increase vigilance. He advised residents affected by the ash to wear masks and eye protection, limit outdoor activities, cover water sources and use caution when driving, as volcanic ash can reduce visibility.

The BBC report further mentioned that Indonesia’s health minister also urged residents of affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory, eye and skin risks.

Is there a tsunami warning?

The reports, citing authorities, further stated that the eruption did not pose an immediate tsunami risk. An earlier eruption in 2018 triggered a tsunami. According to the BBC, over 400 people were killed in the disaster in 2018.

Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa,” emerged from the sea in the area once occupied by Krakatoa after a massive eruption in 1883. The Krakatoa eruption and subsequent tsunami killed more than 36,000 people, according to Reuters.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.