Late on Friday 4 September, Mount Anak Krakatau, located 150km from Jakarta, erupted continuously for 25 hours, producing fountains of lava and a booming sound that could be heard hundreds of kilometres away from the epicentre.
According to Indonesia’s Geological Agency, the continuous eruption began at 11.07pm local time on Friday and ended 25 hours later, at 12.04am on Sunday 6 September. The volcano remains active today, with lighter, intermittent eruptions, prompting school closures and maintaining its Level III alert status.
The Geological Agency confirmed that “the probability of additional eruptions in the coming days remains high”. “We continue to evaluate the volcano’s development based on all monitoring data, not solely on the number of eruptions or the height of the ash column,” said Lana Saria, head of the Geological Agency.
Mount Anak Krakatau, which means “Child of Krakatoa”, is located in the Sunda Strait, separating the islands of Java and Sumatra. Since it emerged from the sea about a century ago in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa, it has been sporadically active. In 2018, the collapse of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java, but, according to Saria, the most recent series of eruptions does not have the potential to trigger a tsunami. The main hazards for visitors and locals are volcanic ash, high gas concentrations, and the ejection of hot rocks, lava, and other material around the crater area.
Indonesia has more than 120 active volcanoes and sits in a seismic area prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. Indonesia lies along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, a belt of seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean that contains around 75 per cent of the world’s active volcanoes.
Travel disruption in Indonesia
Volcanic ash is present in the airspace around Jakarta and several other cities, which prompted Indonesian authorities to close eight airports until 6pm Monday (local time), including Jakarta’s international airports of Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma, Radin Inten in Lampung on Sumatra, and Husein Sastranegara in West Java.
The situation is developing, so airport closures could therefore be extended further, depending on volcanic activity, as confirmed by transport minister Dudy Purwagandhi: “We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather.”
So far, the natural disaster has disrupted around 2,300 flights and affected 270,000 passengers, who are now stranded in the country.
Which airports are currently closed?
- Halim Perdanakusuma Airport (HLP), Jakarta
- Soekarno Hatta International Airport (CGK), Tangerang, serving Jakarta
- Radin Inten II Airport (TKG), Lampung
- Husein Sastranegara Airport (BDO), Bandung
- Budiarto Airport (RTO), Curug, Tangerang
- Pondok Cabe Airport (PCB), South Tangerang
- Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas Airport, Pesisir Barat, Lampung
- Atung Bungsu, South Sumatra
Is it safe to travel to Indonesia?
Air travel has been significantly disrupted in Jakarta and other affected parts of Java and Sumatra, with flights cancelled, delayed or diverted. Travellers should check the latest status of their flight directly with their airline or travel provider before travelling. The FCDO advises against all travel to certain areas but not the country as a whole; you can find the full list on the government website. If you decide to travel to Indonesia during this time, remember to check with your travel insurer to make sure your plan is still valid considering the circumstances.