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Mount Anak Krakatau Erupts, Volcanic Ash Reaches 50,000 Feet; Flights Disrupted Across Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia: Mount Anak Krakatau erupted on Sunday, September 6, sending a huge volcanic ash plume into the sky. The ash reached heights of up to 50,000 feet (15,000 metres), disrupting air travel across western Indonesia.
The eruption forced the temporary suspension of flight operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta’s main airport. Several other airports were also affected as volcanic ash spread across the region.
Initial reports indicated that more than 200 flights were disrupted. Later updates from Indonesian airport authorities showed that the impact had grown significantly. A total of 764 scheduled flights at Soekarno-Hatta were affected by cancellations, delays, diversions and other operational changes.
The disruption also affected thousands of passengers. An earlier official update recorded 209 affected flights and 22,798 passengers at Soekarno-Hatta alone.
Volcanic Ash Creates Major Aviation Risk
Volcanic ash is a serious hazard for aircraft. It can reduce visibility and damage aircraft engines and other systems. Airlines therefore made changes to flight schedules as ash moved through parts of western Indonesia.
Several international routes were affected. These included flights involving Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha and Amsterdam. Domestic services were also disrupted.
Authorities continued monitoring the movement of the ash cloud and coordinated with airlines, airports and Indonesia’s meteorological agency.
Other Areas Also Affected
The eruption did not only disrupt aviation. Volcanic ash also affected daily life in parts of western Indonesia.
Some schools suspended activities because of ash exposure. Fishing activities were also affected in some areas. Residents reported irritation linked to the ash, while authorities advised people to take precautions.
Indonesia’s disaster management authorities said there was no imminent tsunami threat from the latest eruption. Officials continued to monitor Anak Krakatau and surrounding areas.
Anak Krakatau emerged from the caldera of the historic Krakatoa volcano. It has remained intermittently active for decades.
The volcano also became internationally known after its 2018 eruption triggered a tsunami that killed more than 400 people along the coasts of Java and Sumatra.
Authorities are continuing to monitor volcanic activity and the movement of ash. Travellers have been advised to check with airlines before heading to affected airports.
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Tags: Mount Anak Krakatau, Indonesia, Jakarta, Volcano Eruption, Volcanic Ash, Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Flight Disruption, Aviation News, Natural Disaster, Indonesia News