07/09/2026
Anak Krakatau erupted on Sunday, sending volcanic ash across parts of western Indonesia and causing major disruption to air travel.
Authorities closed airspace around eight airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, after ash clouds spread over Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Lampung and surrounding waters.
By Sunday evening, 1,558 flights had been cancelled, affecting about 170,000 passengers. Soekarno-Hatta alone accounted for 963 cancelled flights, while services were also disrupted in Bali and Medan.
Indonesia’s Geological Agency said Anak Krakatau had shown signs of increased activity since Friday before erupting twice early Sunday. One ash plume rose to about 6,100 metres, while another reached around 15,200 metres.
No casualties were reported and no evacuation order was issued, but authorities warned people to stay at least 3 kilometres from the active crater.
Schools in areas affected by ashfall were also allowed to temporarily switch to online learning.
Anak Krakatau, or “child of Krakatau,” emerged from the remains of the volcano whose catastrophic 1883 eruption became one of the most famous volcanic disasters in history. Its 2018 eruption triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java.
