World · India Bureau
Jakarta airport suspends flights as Anak Krakatau volcano erupts
Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted early Sunday, forcing authorities to suspend all flight operations at Jakarta's main international airport. Volcanic ash blanketed parts of the capital and surrounding regions as the geological agency issued safety warnings.
LSN India ·
Anak Krakatau, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra, erupted for approximately 30 seconds at 3:53 am on Sunday, according to Indonesia's Geological Agency. The volcano had displayed signs of heightened activity since Saturday, prompting close monitoring by authorities.
In response to the eruption, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta suspended all flight operations beginning at 5:30 am. The airport authority cited the increased volcanic activity and ash dispersal as reasons for the temporary suspension, though no timeline for resumption was immediately provided.
Volcanic ash from the eruption drifted across Jakarta and Lampung province on southern Sumatra, the country's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation reported. The agency advised residents and visitors to maintain a minimum distance of three kilometres from the volcano's active crater, though the nearest settlement remains more than 16 kilometres away.
No casualties have been reported, and authorities have not issued any evacuation orders for surrounding communities. Indonesia's geological agencies continue to monitor Anak Krakatau for further activity.