Indonesia Volcano Eruption Forces Closure of Seven Airports Affecting 341,000 Passengers

Seven airports in Indonesia, including two serving the capital Jakarta, remained closed on Monday for the third consecutive day due to volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. The flight disruptions have already affected 341,000 passengers due to cancellations and delays.

While the major eruption, which lasted 25 hours, subsided over the past 24 hours, the probability of further eruptions remains high. Ash from Anak Krakatau, located midway between the islands of Java and Sumatra, has blanketed Jakarta and surrounding areas since it erupted on Friday night, forcing the airport closures for safety reasons.

Flight Disruptions and Airport Closures

To date, 2,961 flights have been canceled. Authorities announced that Jakarta's primary hub, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, will remain closed until at least midnight. The closure was extended to ensure that the volcanic ash, which began to dissipate over the last 24 hours, is moving away from the airports, allowing ground crews to clear runways and airlines to prepare their fleets.

At Soekarno-Hatta Airport in the neighboring city of Tangerang, passengers anxiously checked flight status boards, with many seen sleeping on benches. Carlos Zabala, a 24-year-old tourist from Spain, expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication from operators:

"All we can do is wait, and wait, and wait."

Government Response and Disaster Funding

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held an online meeting with disaster management officials to address the eruption, as well as a recent earthquake on August 15 that claimed over 130 lives in eastern Indonesia, and ongoing forest fires. President Subianto called for a significant increase in the disaster mitigation budget.

"This is our fate as a country located on the Ring of Fire. In the future, we will take preventive measures."

He added that additional helicopters and water pumps are urgently needed to manage these recurring natural disasters.

The Legacy of Anak Krakatau

Anak Krakatau, which means "Child of Krakatoa," is one of approximately 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The country sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a highly seismically active region where tectonic plates meet, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

• Historical Context: The volcano began emerging about a century ago in the caldera of the historic Krakatoa volcano, which destroyed itself in a massive 1883 eruption that triggered tsunamis and killed over 36,000 people.

• Recent Activity: In 2018, an eruption at Anak Krakatau triggered a landslide and tsunami that killed more than 400 people.

Flying through volcanic ash is highly hazardous as the ash, rich in sulfur and silica, can severely damage jet engines and drastically reduce visibility.

Although the main eruption has subsided, moderate intermittent activity continued on Monday, with local authorities advising residents in Jakarta and Lampung to wear masks outdoors. Schools in these regions have transitioned to remote learning to protect students' health.