After ash erupted from the Anak Krakatoa volcano over 150 kilometers distant, affecting thousands of travelers, Indonesia suspended operations at its main international airport outside Jakarta on Sunday. According to a statement from the geology department, Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted on Saturday, creating a lava fountain and loud noises that could be heard up to 700 kilometers (435 miles) away.
The volcanology department issued a warning after noticing two fresh eruptions on Sunday.
Authorities suspended operations around 01:30 am on Sunday (Saturday 1830 GMT) after ash from the volcano was found in the airspace surrounding Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
“The latest paper test…showed positive results indicating the spread of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area, consequently the airport closure was extended until Sunday at 09:30 am (0230 GMT),” the transport ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The airport later announced on social media that the suspension had been prolonged by four hours “due to increased eruptive activity.”
The transportation ministry reported that 209 flights, mostly to and from Singapore, were impacted by the suspension, which has affected almost 22,000 people.
Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur were among the other international routes that were impacted.
According to local airport officials, at least 16 domestic flights to Bali were also canceled.
The strait that divides the islands of Java and Sumatra is home to Anak Krakatoa, which translates to “Child of Krakatoa.”
According to a statement from the local port authority, ships traveling through the strait are not allowed to come within a 3-kilometer radius of the volcano and should be more vigilant for any disruptions to navigation safety caused by volcanic activity.
Since emerging from the water at the start of the 20th century in the crater created by Mount Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption, the volcano has been intermittently active.
With an estimated 35,000 fatalities, that catastrophe was among the bloodiest and most catastrophic in history.
Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates collide, Indonesia is an archipelago nation in Southeast Asia that experiences intense seismic and volcanic activity.
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